Spotlight: Syria extends "silence," int'l mediation underway to salvage cease-fire

The Syrian army announced Sunday extending its "regime of silence," or lull in fighting, near Damascus for an additional 24 hours, while key players on the Syria issue are bustling in Geneva for talks to salvage the cease-fire in the war-torn country.

"The regime of silence is being extended for another 24 hours to deter some of the terrorist groups from targeting civilians," it said in a statement.

The Syrian army announced Friday that a "regime of silence" will be observed in hotspots in east Damascus for 24 hours and in Latakia for 72 hours in order to uphold the ceasefire.

Russia and the United States have reportedly agreed to enhance the cessation of hostilities deal in northern Latakia and the suburbs of Damascus.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry rushed to Geneva on Sunday in a bid to salvage the cease-fire in Syria, especially in Aleppo, Syria's former commercial capital.

Kerry expressed hope that an extension of the ceasefire could be achieved as well as an end to the fighting.

The United States looked for Russia's cooperation in persuading the Syrian government, Kerry said when he met Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh here.

A cease-fire throughout Syria was needed, noted Kerry, who will also meet Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and the UN envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura on Monday.

Fighting between Syria's government troops and insurgents has reportedly escalated in the city of Aleppo over the past days, endangering a cease-fire deal brokered by Russia and the United States on Feb. 27.

Insurgents shelled government-held positions on Sunday, and Syria's state news agency SANA said six people had been killed. Later Sunday, government warplanes launched 15 air strikes against several insurgent-held areas in the city, according to reports.

Shops and businesses were closed in insurgent-held areas in Aleppo and electricity and water had been cut off for days there.

Syria's army Friday declared a "regime of calm," which applied to Damascus and some areas of Latakia Province, but excluded Aleppo.

Insurgents rejected the "partial regime" on Saturday, saying any truce should include all areas.

Russia said on Sunday negotiations were ongoing to establish a "regime of calm" also in Aleppo province. Syria's army confirmed the lull around Damascus, but did not mention Aleppo.

Judeh said the situation in Aleppo was "quite alarming," and that the cessation of hostilities, negotiations and humanitarian access there have been challenged.

On April 25, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed concern over the deterioration of the intra-Syrian talks, which were still continuing here despite the pullout of a delegation of Syria's main opposition, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), from formal negotiations.

The failure to reach a political common ground between the Syrian government and the opposition has sparked a new wave of violence in Syria.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the same day confirmed that Moscow and Washington have approved a system to monitor the ceasefire.

"It is being implemented daily, during regular contacts between the authorities of the Russian military base in Hmeimim and the U.S. soldiers in Amman (Jordanian capital)," Lavrov said.

During a telephone conversation with Kerry, Lavrov urged moderate Syrian opposition forces to leave the positions controlled by terrorist groups that were trying to subdue those who have joined the cease-fire.

With regard to the ongoing intra-Syrian talks here, Lavrov said they would continue, although some representatives of the Saudi-backed Syrian opposition, the Riyadh group, have left.

"The situation during the talks in Geneva could have been much better if one delegation of the opposition had not left Geneva, as they say, temporarily," Lavrov said.

The minister called on all Syrian forces not to "slam the door and strike an attitude" with regard to the drafting of a new constitution and other political issues aimed at resolving the crisis. Endi