Syria patience limited on truce breaches: President Assad
President Bashar al-Assad of Syria says the army has so far refrained from responding to breaches of the ceasefire in the country but there are "limits" to its patience.
"The terrorists have breached the deal from the first day," the Syrian president was quoted Tuesday by state media as saying in an interview with German broadcaster ARD's Weltspiegel Extra program which will be aired in full later.
"We as the Syrian army are refraining from responding in order to give a chance to sustain the agreement and that is what we can do. But in the end there are limits and it all depends on the other side."
President Assad said the cessation of hostilities is a "glimmer of hope," adding, "We will play our part to make the whole thing work."
The ceasefire went into effect on February 27. It was brokered by the United States and Russia.
Assad also stated that people living in Syria are suffering from a "humanitarian disaster."
The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which started in March 2011, has claimed the lives of some 470,000 people and left 1.9 million injured, according to the Syrian Center for Policy Research.
The Syrian president offered amnesty to those militants who will put down their arms, and said they can "return to normal civilian life" on that condition.
Also on Tuesday, the UN said in a statement that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed that there is an urgent need to implement the ceasefire agreement.
"They agreed on the importance of urgently moving forward simultaneously on implementing the cessation of hostilities agreement, providing vital humanitarian assistance to civilians, and returning to political negotiations," the statement said, referring to the two officials.
At least three killed, several injured in US strikes on Syria military positions
Iran, Russia, Turkey condemn Israeli atrocities in West Asia
'Iran, Syria resolved to confront Israel's criminal gang, prevent conflict spillover'
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | Nurses protest against Israeli genocide at UN HQ
VIDEO | France-Israel football row
VIDEO | Archbishop of Canterbury quits over handling of abuse by pedo volunteer John Smyth
Hezbollah hits Tel Aviv with ballistic missiles; debuts tactical rocket in anti-Israeli struggle
VIDEO | Iraqi resistance fighters strike ‘vital targets’ across occupied territories
VIDEO | Hezbollah leader to fighters: You are the pride shaking foundations of Zionism
Iran not worried that Trump may toughen oil sanctions: Minister
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
