PHOTO: The main opposition grouping described the ceasefire as "positive" but lodged a formal complaint with the UN and foreign governments about breaches on the first day. (AFP: STR)Key players in the Syrian war traded accusations over violations of the first major ceasefire in the five-year conflict, but the truce remained largely intact on its second day.
The main opposition grouping described the ceasefire as "positive" but lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations and foreign governments about breaches on the first day.
"We have violations here and there, but in general it is a lot better than before and people are comfortable," said Salem al-Meslet, spokesman for the Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC).
An HNC letter to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon accused the Syrian government and its allies of committing "24 violations with artillery shelling and five ground operations... in 26 areas held by the moderate opposition".
The letter, signed by HNC head Riad Hijab, also attacked Russia for conducting "26 air strikes on areas falling within the ceasefire".
The Russian military said residential areas of Damascus were shelled six times from areas controlled by the "moderate opposition".
State media said the President's coastal stronghold of Latakia was shelled from areas controlled by the Al Qaeda allied, Nusrah Front.
Aid groups hope to use the lull in fighting, which has claimed 270,000 lives and displaced more than half the population, to deliver desperately needed supplies.
A successful truce would also create a more favourable backdrop for peace talks that collapsed in acrimony in early February, as a Russia-backed regime offensive in northern Syria caused tens of thousands to flee.
Mr Hijab said the breaches had killed 29 people and wounded dozens.
The HNC has said it did not receive any maps outlining which areas were included in the ceasefire or documents explaining the monitoring mechanism.
Syria's Al-Watan daily, which is close to the government, said that those maps were still being "kept secret".
The ceasefire does not apply to territory held by the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front
.
'The ceasefire regime in Syria is being implemented'
Saudi Arabia, a staunch opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, also accused Russia of flouting the ceasefire and targeting "moderate opposition" groups.
"Things will become clearer in the coming days on whether the regime and Russia are serious or not about the ceasefire," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said.
Russia, which has waged a five-month bombing campaign to support Assad, blamed "moderate" rebels, Turkey and jihadists for nine ceasefire violations.
Even under the best of circumstances, we don't expect the violence to end immediately.
Senior US administration official
But "on the whole, the ceasefire regime in Syria is being implemented," Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko, head of Moscow's coordination centre in Syria, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
Britain-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported air strikes — believed to be either Syrian or Russian — on seven villages in Hama and Aleppo provinces.
It was unclear if the raids hit areas covered by the ceasefire, which excludes territory held by IS, also known as ISIL, and Al-Nusra.
According to Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman, only one of the villages, Kafr Hamra in Aleppo province, is controlled by Al-Nusra and the others are held by non-jihadist rebels.
As recriminations flew, Washington urged everyone to be patient.
"Setbacks are inevitable," a senior US administration official said.
"Even under the best of circumstances, we don't expect the violence to end immediately."
'The ceasefire regime in Syria is being implemented'
Saudi Arabia, a staunch opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, also accused Russia of flouting the ceasefire and targeting "moderate opposition" groups.
"Things will become clearer in the coming days on whether the regime and Russia are serious or not about the ceasefire," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said.
Russia, which has waged a five-month bombing campaign to support Assad, blamed "moderate" rebels, Turkey and jihadists for nine ceasefire violations.
Even under the best of circumstances, we don't expect the violence to end immediately.
Senior US administration official
But "on the whole, the ceasefire regime in Syria is being implemented," Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko, head of Moscow's coordination centre in Syria, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
Britain-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported air strikes — believed to be either Syrian or Russian — on seven villages in Hama and Aleppo provinces.
It was unclear if the raids hit areas covered by the ceasefire, which excludes territory held by IS, also known as ISIL, and Al-Nusra.
According to Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman, only one of the villages, Kafr Hamra in Aleppo province, is controlled by Al-Nusra and the others are held by non-jihadist rebels.
As recriminations flew, Washington urged everyone to be patient.
"Setbacks are inevitable," a senior US administration official said.
"Even under the best of circumstances, we don't expect the violence to end immediately."
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