Russia, Turkey and Iran agree to safeguard Syrian ceasfire

Peace talks in Kazakhstan between the Syrian government and rebel factions have concluded with Russia, Turkey and Iran striking a deal on a three-way mechanism to consolidate a ceasefire in the country.

At the end of the two-day summit in Astana, Kazakhstan's foreign minister, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, said the three countries will use their "influence" to strengthen the truce, without specifying how that would work.