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Russian air force lowers strike intensity in Syria

Xinhua, February 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Russian combat aircraft have lowered the intensity of their airstrikes in Syria in the past two days, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The Russian air force has carried out 62 sorties in the last 48 hours, hitting 187 terrorist targets, Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in an online statement.

"The intensity of Russian airstrikes in Syria fell significantly in the past two days, especially in areas where local authorities and armed groups have agreed to cease hostilities and start negotiations," Konashenkov said.

On Monday, Russia and the United States announced a plan of cessation of hostilities in Syria, demanding that any party engaged in the conflict in Syria indicate to Russia or the United States their commitment to the ceasefire by no later than 12:00 p.m. Damascus time (1000 GMT) on Saturday.

But the agreement excluded the Islamic State, the Nusra Front and other terrorist organizations designated by the United Nations Security Council.

Meanwhile, Konashenkov said that the United States was slow in fulfilling the ceasefire agreement.

"Yesterday, all hotline contact information was handed to the military attache at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, as mandated by the U.S.-Russian agreement on ceasefire in Syria," he said. "A day passed, but we have had no response from our partners."

The spokesman also added that the reconciliation center established at the Russian airbase Hmeimim in Syria for reconciliation of the warring parties under the agreement had received "dozens of" requests from various opposition groups. Endi