Syria’s opposition gives ‘conditional’ acceptance of ceasefire

Syria ceasefire: In this undated image made from video, Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, gestures while being interviewed in Damascus, Syria, by a journalist with Spanish El Pais newspaper published Sunday Feb. 21, 2016. During the interview Assad said that refugees can return to his country without fear of reprisals and asserted that the only way for regime change to happen in Syria is through a political process. (Syrian Presidency / El Pais video via AP)

Syria’s main opposition grouping said it has accepted a ceasefire deal announced by the United States and Russia if humanitarian “conditions” were met. The statement by the Riyadh-based High Negotiations Committee came hours after Moscow and Washington said a ceasefire in war-torn Syria was set to begin overnight Friday-Saturday.

“After HNC general coordinator Riad Hijab presented the results of his discussions with opposition factions across all fronts, we agreed to respond positively to international efforts to reach a truce deal,” the HNC said. But its “commitment to the truce is conditional” on the lifting of sieges, release of prisoners, a halt to bombardment of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Watch Video: Hopes and fears for the Syria ceasefire

The statement said the ceasefire “should be announced simultaneously by all sides”. It quoted HNC head Hijab as saying he did not have high expectations that the regime and its allies “would be able to commit to stopping their hostile acts”.

In a joint announcement earlier yesterday, the United States and Russia said parties in Syria that wanted to commit to the cessation of hostilities should do so by noon Damascus time (1000 GMT) on Friday.