Syrian opposition HNC agrees to 2-week truce

The Riyadh-based Syrian opposition group Higher Negotiation Committee (HNC) has agreed to a two-week truce, in response to the cessation of hostilities agreement between Russia and the United States, the Saudi al-Arabiya TV said on Wednesday.

After a meeting in Riyadh Wednesday, the Saudi backed HNC said the two-week truce "constitutes a chance to test the seriousness of the other party (Syrian government) in committing to the cessation of hostilities deal."

The HNC said it had "attentively studied" the Russian-U.S. agreement, and it "values and looks positively" to any effort that could be conducive in bringing the shelling of Syrian civilians to a halt.

While denouncing the terrorism committed by the Islamic State (IS) group and the al-Qaida-linked groups, the HNC also slammed the intervention of the Shiite militias in the fight alongside the Syrian administration.

The HNC said the ceasefire agreement ignored "the Russian and Iranian role in committing aggressions in Syria," and didn't include a clear identification of the territories that will be included in the cessation of hostilities deal.

Russia and the United States agreed to enforce a cessation of hostilities in Syria starting from Saturday. Warring parties have to decide whether they will agree to the deal by noon on Friday (1000 GMT), and to halt fighting at midnight on Saturday.

On Tuesday, the Syrian government and rebel groups accepted the plan.

The deal excludes the IS and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, as both groups are designated by the United Nations as terrorists. Endit