BBC29 Dec 2016 12:22
Syria conflict: Turkey plans for ceasefire before new year
1 hour ago
A plan to implement a ceasefire across Syria could be in place before the new year, Turkey's foreign minister says.
Mevlut Cavusoglu said the plan, which also involves Russia, could be set in motion "at any moment" but it was up to the "will of the leaders".
Russia has not officially confirmed the deal, other than to say talks are under way with Turkey. The two countries back opposing sides in the conflict.
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Turkey's state news agency had earlier reported the deal could come as early as Thursday evening.
The issue of which areas would fall under the ceasefire deal remains a possible stumbling block.
Earlier this month, Moscow and Ankara negotiated a ceasefire in Syria's second city, Aleppo, that led to tens of thousands of rebel fighters and civilians being evacuated from an enclave besieged by government forces.
Previous ceasefire initiatives this year brokered by the UN, or the US acting with Russia, quickly collapsed.
Fighting has continued elsewhere in Syria since the Aleppo evacuation, notably in the nearby town of al-Bab, where Turkey has been helping rebels fighting so-called Islamic State.
'On the verge'
Speaking on Turkish TV, Mr Cavusoglu said Turkey and Russia would act as guarantors of the ceasefire deal, under which all foreign fighter groups would have to leave Syria.
"We are on the verge of an agreement with Russia," he said.
"If everything goes alright, we will make this agreement. Russia will be the guarantor of the regime [Syrian government]. Russia and Turkey are guarantors in the agreement being worked on in Ankara."
He added that there was "nothing final" on whether Iran, another military ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, would also sign it as a guarantor.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-38458454