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  • 21:31

    US, Russia agree to extend Syria truce to Aleppo

    The United States and Russia have agreed to work with Syria's warring parties to extend a shaky truce to the city of Aleppo, AFP reports.

    "Since this went into effect today at 00:01 in Damascus, we have seen an overall decrease in violence in these areas," US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said. "To ensure this continues in a sustainable way, we are coordinating closely with Russia to finalize enhanced monitoring efforts of this renewed cessation."

    Last week, Washington and Moscow agreed to monitor a truce between Bashar al-Assad's loyalist forces and opposition in rebels in Latakia and Eastern Ghouta.

    But the divided city of Aleppo, a major commercial center in the north of the country, was excluded from their efforts and fierce fighting continued there.