Syrian Opposition Says Russia Can't Be Trusted to Respect Truce
- Opposition group calls for UN peacekeepers to be sent to Syria
- HNC to attend Geneva talks if international peace bid works
Opposition fighters belonging to Jaish al-Islam, belongong to a rebel group in Damascus check their ammunition belts.
Photographer: Amer Almohibany/AFP/Getty ImagesSyria’s main opposition group expressed doubt about Russia’s intention to comply with a partial cease-fire in the country’s civil war, calling on the U.S. and its allies to make sure that President Vladimir Putin sticks to the agreement.
Rebel groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will only halt hostilities if his forces and their Russian and Iranian allies stop targeting them by Feb. 18 in line with the accord negotiated by major powers in Munich on Thursday, said Salem al-Muslet, chief spokesman for the High Negotiations Committee. The group is ready to attend the next round of United Nations-sponsored peace talks scheduled for Feb. 25 if the commitments are implemented, he said.