President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (File) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking after attending Eid al-Adha prayers, President Tayyip Erdogan said the initial 48-hour ceasefire could be extended by a week and then again for a further period if it held, and the aim was to establish “first class peace”. The truce agreed between Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the United States, which backs some rebel factions, excludes some jihadist groups. Previous efforts to forge agreements to stop the fighting and deliver humanitarian aid to besieged communities in Syria have crumbled within weeks, with the United States accusing Assad’s forces of attacking opposition groups and civilians.

Source: Indian Express September 12, 2016 06:22 UTC