Ban says Syria truce largely holding despite some incidents

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says the Syrian ceasefire is largely holding although some incidents were recorded over the weekend.

"As of now I can tell you that by and large the cessation of hostilities is holding even though we have experienced some incidents," Ban told reporters on Monday after meeting with his envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura.

Ban noted the UN-backed task force that monitors the ceasefire and member states of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) "are now trying to make sure that this does not spread any further and that this cessation of hostilities can continue."

The ceasefire agreed by the United States and Russia took effect in Syria on February 27 midnight Damascus time. The Syrian government also accepted the terms of the truce on condition that military efforts against Daesh and the al-Nusra Front militants, who are not included in the ceasefire agreement, continue.

According to a statement by the Syrian Foreign Ministry, the country's military, however, reserves the right to "respond to any breach by these groups against Syrian citizens or against its armed forces."

SS