Syria calls local truces as fighting is condemned

Syria declared brief local truces near Damascus and in one province but made no mention of halting combat on the main battlefield in Aleppo, after a surge in fighting the UN said showed “monstrous disregard” for civilian lives.

The new “regime of calm”, that was due to begin from 1am this morning, would last just one day in the capital’s eastern Ghouta suburb and three days in the northern countryside of the coastal province of Latakia, the army said in a statement.

Both districts have seen intensified fighting in recent days. The statement made no mention however of the city of Aleppo, scene of the worst violence, which is divided between rebel-held and government areas.