The UN-backed Syrian ceasefire plan appeared to take hold on Thursday, lifting hopes for an end to the deadly clashes between opposition and pro-government forces that have killed over 9,000 people in the past year, Al Arabiya reported.
“The situation is calm in all regions,” Rami Abdel Rahman from the Syrian Human Rights Group told AFP an hour before the deadline for implementing the ceasefire expired at 6:00 a.m. local time (03:00 GMT).
Rahman however said that “there has not been any movement indicating a withdrawal of tanks.”
The six-point plan, proposed by UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan and approved by the UN Security Council, includes a pullback of troops from the cities, a halt to fighting, the release of unjustly arrested people, and respect for the people's right to peaceful protest and for press freedom.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad who has earlier sent to Annan a letter promising to "cease all military fighting throughout Syrian territory as of 6:00 am," reserved the right "to respond proportionately to any attacks carried out by armed terrorist groups," Al Arabiya said.
Russia which has traditionally supported Syria and insisted on non-interference to the country’s domestic affaires has also hailed Annan’s plan and called on the opposition to adhere to it.
More than 9,000 have been killed since March 2011 in clashes between the Syrian government and the opposition, which has gone from street protests to military action.
Annan negotiated a ceasefire last month, which both parties reluctantly agreed to support. However, Syrian opposition activists said infighting intensified ahead of the deadline, which was initially set for Tuesday but then pushed back two days.
