Syria's army command announced a ceasefire yesterday to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha but said it reserved the right to respond to any rebel attack or moves to reinforce President Bashar al Assad's armed foes.
A Free Syrian Army commander gave qualified backing to the truce, proposed by UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, but demanded Mr Assad free detainees. An Islamist group said it was not committed to the truce but may halt operations if the army did.
Mr Brahimi proposed the temporary truce to stem the bloodshed in a conflict that erupted as popular protests in March last year and escalated into a civil war, which activists say has killed more than 32,000 people.
"On the occasion of the blessed Eid al Adha, the general command of the army and armed forces announces a halt to military operations on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, from Friday morning ... until Monday," an army statement read on state television said.
It reserved the right to respond if "the armed terrorist groups open fire on civilians and government forces, attack public and private properties, or use car bombs and explosives".
The UN said aid agencies were ready to use a ceasefire to go to areas that have been difficult to reach because of the fighting.
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