Obama meets with Jordanian King, voicing caution about cease-fire plan in Syria

U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday expressed caution about a plan to end the war in Syria, while saying progress had been made on fighting the extremist group the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria.

"We are very cautious about raising expectations on this," Obama said, after meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House in the day. Jordan is on the U.S.-led coalition conducting airstrikes in Syria.

"The situation on the ground is difficult," Obama said. "If, over the next several weeks, we can see some lessening of the violence that's been wracking that country, then that provides us a basis to build a longer-term ceasefire both in the north and the south."

The United States and Russia on Monday announced the plan for a cessation of hostilities in Syria that will begin Feb. 27. The plan will not include IS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Any party engaged in conflicts in Syria will indicate to Russia or the United States their commitment to and acceptance of the terms for the cessation of hostilities by no later than Saturday noon, Damascus time.

Obama noted that if some progress was made in Syria, that would lead to a political transition to end the fighting in the war-torn country.

"It also would allow us, then, to focus all our efforts -- all the parties in the entire world community, including Russia" on the fighting against IS.

"We have seen progress in pushing back against ISIL in territory both in Iraq and now in some portions of Syria," Obama said. "But a lot of work remains to be done."

The two leaders also talked about how to solve the problem of Syrian refugees during their meeting. Endit