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The ceasefire
between rebels on one hand and the Syrian army and its Lebanese
ally Hezbollah on the other began on Wednesday. It halted
fighting in the town of Zabadani near the Lebanese border and
the villages of Kefraya and al-Foua in the northwest.
Sources involved in the negotiations say they are focused on
agreeing a withdrawal of rebel fighters from Zabadani and the
evacuation of civilians from the two Shi'ite villages in the
northwest.
"There is no final agreement yet but talks continue," a source
on the insurgents' side said.
An official close to the Syrian government said negotiations
were going slowly.
Zabadani has been the focus of a weeks-long campaign by the
Syrian army and the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah aimed at
driving out insurgents who are still holed up inside.
The rebels have meanwhile targeted the two Shi'ite villages in a
parallel offensive.
The negotiations have been led on the insurgents' side by the
Sunni Islamist rebel group Ahrar al-Sham.
Iran, which backs Hezbollah and Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad, helped to bring about the ceasefire, as did Turkey,
which has supported insurgents fighting against Damascus.
The ceasefire began at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Wednesday and was
initially agreed to last two days.
Issues being discussed included safe passage for wounded
fighters who want to leave Zabadani, and the later withdrawal of
all fighters, the official close to the Syrian government said.
The rebels had submitted a list of names of wounded fighters
they want to evacuate initially, the official said.
(Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Gareth Jones and Digby
Lidstone)
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