UN-backed ceasefire in Syria comes into effect

Guns fell silent across Syria on Saturday after a landmark UN-backed ceasefire came into effect, and a special task force composed of rivals Moscow and Washington prepared to begin monitoring the fledgling truce.

The ceasefire came into effect at midnight yesterday in Syria., reports Guardian .

This is the first major truce in five years of civil war that has claimed more than 2.7 lakh lives.

The cease-fire aims to bring representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition back to the negotiating table in Geneva for talks.

Syrian government and the opposition, including nearly 100 rebel groups, have said they will abide by the cease-fire despite serious skepticism about chances for successs of a political transition.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said Syria peace talks which collapsed earlier this month in Geneva would resume on March 7 if the ceasefire holds and more aid is delivered.

Less than an hour before the ceasefire, the UN Security Council gave its unanimous backing to a resolution drafted by the US and Russia, demanding that it be upheld.

Syrian government and the opposition, including nearly 100 rebel groups, have said they will abide by the cease-fire despite serious skepticism about chances for success.

Iran, another key Assad ally, has said it is confident the regime will abide by the agreement.