US-Russia truce plan agreed

The United States and Russia reached a deal on a new Syrian ceasefire, which, if it holds, could see the first joint military effort by the two powers against jihadists.

Syria's government yesterday approved the deal, but the main opposition group was more cautious.

The landmark deal, reached after marathon talks in Geneva on Friday, negotiated by US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is set to enter into force on Monday, the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid-ul-Azha.

But even as diplomats touted the agreement as a path to peace, a barrage of air strikes on two major cities in the north killed dozens.

Syrian state news agency SANA reported that the "government has approved the agreement, and a cessation of hostilities will begin in Aleppo for humanitarian reasons".

Citing "informed sources", it said "the entire agreement was reached with the knowledge of the Syrian government".

The opposition High Negotiations Committee said it had yet to receive the deal's "official text", however.

"We saw the agreement via the media -- we must receive an official copy," HNC spokesman Salem al-Meslet wrote on Twitter.

Leading HNC member Bassma Kodmani told AFP that her group "cautiously welcomed" the deal but was sceptical that Damascus would comply.

Both Kerry and Lavrov said the complex plan is the best chance to end the five-year war that has killed 290,000 people and seen millions flee to neighbouring countries.

Under the deal, fighting would halt across the country at sundown on Monday and Syria's air force would stop attacking rebel-held areas.

US special envoy to the Syrian crisis Michael Ratney appealed to rebel groups to commit to the deal, saying it was the "best way" to save lives.

In a letter, he said the initial truce would last 48 hours and could then be renewed, and that it would be "more effective than its predecessor" because it would halt Syrian strikes on "on civilians and the opposition".

To get aid into the battered second city of Aleppo, a "demilitarised zone" would be established around the Castello Road into the city.

In turn, Washington must get opposition groups it backs to separate themselves from the Fateh al-Sham Front, which changed its name from al-Nusra Front after renouncing its ties to al-Qaeda.

If a cessation of hostilities holds for one week, the US and Russia -- which back opposing sides -- could start joint operations against those jihadists.

The HNC's Kodmani said the opposition would "do our part" to see that rebel groups break ranks with the jihadists if the truce held.

UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said that the deal provided a "window of opportunity" and that he would begin consultations on relaunching peace talks.

But the deal faced some major obstacles.

The question of Assad's fate remains a key sticking point: the HNC repeated its demand this week that he leave power, but Russia continues to back him.

And Syria expert Charles Lister said mainstream opposition fighters had not indicated a willingness to break their alliance with powerful hardliners, which they see as "a military necessity".

Britain, France Germany welcomed the ceasefire deal.

Key rebel backer Turkey also backed the deal, adding that it was essential that the fighting stop and aid start flowing from day one of the ceasefire. But Iran, another key ally of the Assad regime, remained silent. There was also no comment from Saudi Arabia.

The rebel-jihadist alliance is most pronounced in Idlib province, site of yesterday's deadly air strikes.

The Observatory said 24 people were killed in raids on various neighbourhoods of Idlib city, but it was not immediately clear who carried out the strikes.

Another 11 civilians were killed in unidentified strikes on several neighbourhoods of Aleppo city, the Observatory said.

A UN-backed truce in February faltered after each side accused the other of repeated violations.