At least 135 killed in first 7 days of Syrian truce

Cairo, March 6 (IANS/EFE) At least 135 people were killed in areas covered by the cessation of hostilities during the first week of the truce, which came into force in some parts of Syria on February 27, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Saturday.

The London-based NGO said the victims included 45 people from rebel fighters and Islamist factions and 32 civilians, including seven children and seven women.

A total of 25 members of Syrian regime and National Defence forces were killed, in addition to the death of 33 combatants from the People's Protection Units, Nusra Front, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda in Syria, and other Islamist factions.

Most of the victims were killed in airstrikes and clashes during the period between February 27 and March 4 in Syrian areas where the cease-fire entered into force, including the province of Latakia, Western Ghouta and Eastern Ghouta, located on the outskirts of Damascus, and the northern province of Aleppo.