Syria's foreign minister said on Monday that his government would abide by the terms of a Russian plan for "de-escalation" zones so long as rebels also observed it. The deal for de-escalation zones was brokered by Russia, with backing from Turkey and Iran, during ceasefire talks in the Kazakh capital Astana last week and came into effect at midnight on Friday, but some fighting has continued in those areas. A spokesman for the UN secretary general's special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, declined to comment on those remarks. United StatesMoualem also addressed what he described as an apparent change of attitude toward Syria by the U.S. administration. Reporting By Angus McDowall, Ellen Francis, Tom Perry and Laila Bassam; Additional reporting by Tom Miles in Geneva; Editing by Robin Pomeroy

Source: Egypt Independent May 08, 2017 11:15 UTC