SYRIAN CEASEFIRE DEAL BROKERED BY RUSSIA AND TURKEY GOES INTO EFFECT|敘利亞達成全國性停火協議 俄.土作擔保

A week after the Syrian government recaptured Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 29th that Syrian opposition groups and the Syrian government had signed a number of documents, including a ceasefire deal. The deal would take effect at midnight on the night of Dec. 29-30. Speaking at the meeting, Putin said that the documents were signed earlier on Thursday. He also said that Russia had agreed to reduce its military deployment in Syria, but stressed that Moscow would continue to fight "terrorism" in the region and maintain its support for the Syrian government. The deal was brokered by Russia and Turkey, who back opposing sides in the sprawling civil war, but notably does not involve Washington, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow. Russia said that seven opposition groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, had signed the deal. Those who failed to adhere would be considered "terrorists". TRANSLATED BY：JEFF CHANG