Syria ceasefire agreed between army and rebels as Vladimir Putin announces start of peace talks
The Russian president has said Bashar al-Assad's regime and rebels have signed a truce deal
VLADIMIR Putin has announced a ceasefire in Syria starting from midnight and also promised a reduction in Russian forces in the war-torn country.
The Kremlin strongman said an agreement was reached between Bashar al-Assad's regime and rebels.
Turkey's foreign ministry also confirmed the news, but said it excludes groups the UN considers to be terrorist organisations.
This includes ISIS, the ex-Nusra Front and all groups linked to them.
All other relevant parties are said to have agreed the deal, which comes after a bloody battle for rebel-held Aleppo ended with Assad in control.
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Russia has said all parties are ready to start peace talks in the troubled region.
At a meeting with Russian foreign and defence ministers, Putin said: "This agreement we’ve reached is very fragile, as we all understand. They require special attention and patience, professional attitude, and constant contact with our partners.
“The first was signed by the Syrian government and the Syrian opposition to stop hostilities in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. The second one is a complex of measures to control the ceasefire. The third document is a declaration of intention for Syrian settlement."
After the Kremlin announcement, Syria's army said it would halt all military operations from midnight, and the opposition National Coalition also said it backed the truce.
Putin also said he would reduce Moscow's military contingent in Syria, which has been flying a bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad since last year.
But the former KGB agent said that Russia would continue to fight "terrorism" in the war-torn country and maintain its support for the government in Damascus.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the seven opposition groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, that have signed up to the agreements after months of talks comprise some 62,000 fighters and control a large portion of territory in central and northern Syria.
He warned that any groups that did not abide by the ceasefire would be considered "terrorists" alongside the Islamic State group and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate previously known as Al-Nusra Front, now rebranded the Fateh al-Sham Front.
All foreign fighter troops will have to leave Syria if the truce holds.
Speaking before the announcement on Turkish TV, Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, said: "We are on the verge of an agreement with Russia.
"If everything goes alright, we will make this agreement. Russia will be the guarantor of the regime [Syrian government]. Russia and Turkey are guarantors in the agreement being worked on in Ankara."
Earlier this month Moscow and Ankara negotiated a ceasefire in Aleppo, which led to tens of thousands of rebel fighters and civilians being evacuated.
Previous truce attempts this year brokered by the UN or the US acting with Russia have quickly collapsed.
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