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61 Syrian settlements join reconciliation process — Russian defense ministry

According to the bulletin, ceasefire agreements have been reached with field commanders of two armed groups in the province of Damascus with an overall strength of up to 300 men

MOSCOW, April 12. /TASS/. As many as 61 settlements in Syria have by now joined the reconciliation process and signed ceasefire agreements with the Syrian authorities, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria said in a regular daily bulletin posted on the Russian defense ministry’s website on Tuesday.

"Reconciliation talks have been conducted with representatives from two settlement in the province of Homs," the document says. "The number of settlements that have joined the reconciliation process is 61."

According to the bulletin, ceasefire agreements have been reached with field commanders of two armed groups in the province of Damascus with an overall strength of up to 300 men.

"The number of opposition groups that have accepted ceasefire term has reached 49," the document points.

Peaceful life returning to liberated Syrian cities, gunmen attempting offensives

 Officers of the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties held a working meeting with heads of administration of the settlement of Al-Qaratayn in the province of Homs to discuss issues of restoration of the city’s infrastructure and humanitarian aid deliveries to people returning to the city, the Russian center said in a regular daily bulletin posted on the Russian defense ministry’s website on Tuesday.

The center said it continues to form more humanitarian convoys for two settlements in the province of Homs.

A total of 800 meters of electricity transmission lines were restored in Al-Qaratayn in the past day, the center said. Syrian mine pickers cleared of mines a territory of 2.4 hectares. Local residents are working to restore their housing.

According to the Russian reconciliation center, gunmen of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group attempted an offensive in the settlement of Akch-Baer (the province of Latakia) after preliminary bombardment. Having encountered strong resistance from the Syrian government troops and having sustained losses the terrorists retreated to their initial position near the settlement of Zaytunjik.

Over past 24 hours, 4 ceasefire violations registered in Latakia province

The ceasefire is observed in the majority of Syria’s provinces. Over the past 24 hours, 4 violations have been registered in Latakia province, the Russian Center for the reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria said in a statement posted on the website of the Russian Defense Ministry.

The units of Ahrar ash-Sham identifying itself as an opposition group "continued to shell the populated localities of Jubb al-Mgara, Aku-Baer, Ain al-Ashara and Shmaisa using mortars and improvised multiple rocket launchers." The fire attacks have killed 3 persons, three civilians sustained injuries of varying severity, the statement says.

The Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force have not carried out strikes on the opposition armed groups that declared their intention to stop fighting and handed over information on their exact location to the Russian or U.S. reconciliation centers, the statement notes.

A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27. This does not cover terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both outlawed in Russia, and other groups recognized as terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.

An hour before the ceasefire came into force, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in support cessation of hostilities in Syria. The document was initiated by Russia and the United States and won support from all the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council.