Syria truce strained on eve of fresh peace talks

Syria's landmark ceasefire was threatening to fall apart on Tuesday amid a surge of fighting, especially in northern Aleppo province, as peace talks were set to resume in Geneva.

Fresh concerns about the ceasefire were voiced by Iran, where the United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura was holding talks with the key backer of President Bashar al-Assad.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian told De Mistura that the recent increase in fighting was "disturbing and may interfere with the political process".

Washington had raised similar concerns about the ceasefire ahead of the talks due to start on Wednesday, which De Mistura has called "crucially important".

In Tehran after meeting Abdollahian, De Mistura expressed hope the truce would hold.

"We agreed that what is very important is that cessation of hostilities continues, that humanitarian aid reaches every Syrian, in particular of course those besieged areas, but every Syrian," he said.

"A political process leading to a political transition is now crucially urgent."

Wednesday's Geneva talks will be the second round since Assad's regime and rebel forces agreed to the partial truce brokered by Moscow and Washington, which has largely held since February 27.

- Strain on ceasefire -

The ceasefire has raised hopes for a resolution to the five-year conflict which has devastated Syria and killed more than 270,000 people.

But concern has been growing that a recent rise in violence, focused mainly in Aleppo province, is putting intense strain on the truce.

Pro-government forces were on Tuesday pressing an advance against the town of Al-Eis, held by Al-Qaeda's local affiliate, Al-Nusra Front, and allied rebels, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Al-Nusra and the rebels fought back, killing at least 23 regime loyalists, including Iranian and Afghan militia fighters, the Observatory said.

Jihadists like those from Al-Nusra and the Islamic State group are excluded from the ceasefire. But in some areas, Al-Nusra is allied with rebel forces meant to be covered by the truce.

Intra-jihadist fighting also raged in southern Damascus, where IS on Tuesday took control of most of a Palestinian refugee camp, seizing territory held by Al-Nusra, a Palestinian official told AFP.

Regime warplanes have carried out "unprecedented" air strikes on the rebel-held eastern parts of Aleppo city, according to the Observatory.

"I didn't send my child to school today because I was afraid of more air strikes like in the past two days," said Ismail, a 30-year-old Aleppo resident.

- Worries over Aleppo -

Abu Mohammad fled his home in Aleppo during the peak of the Syrian air force's bombing campaign but came back when the situation improved. He now fears his return may be short-lived.

"I am preparing myself to leave the city should the bombing continue," the 38-year-old father of four told AFP.

Washington on Monday expressed worries that an assault against Al-Nusra in Aleppo may spread to moderate rebel factions, which could cause the truce to collapse and derail the peace efforts.

"We are concerned about plans to attack and seize... Aleppo when there are clearly opposition groups there that are part of the cessation of hostilities," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

The truce has allowed increased humanitarian aid deliveries and a significant drop in civilian deaths.

"The ceasefire has been so important over the last weeks because it has given people a lot more than simply access to markets, access to assistance. It has given them hope," the World Food Programme's deputy regional head Matthew Hollingworth told AFP in Damascus.

Assad's fate remains a major stumbling block as Syria's government and opposition resume the indirect peace negotiations in Geneva.

Delegates from the High Negotiations Committee, representing the main opposition groups, were due to meet with De Mistura on Wednesday afternoon, his office said.

De Mistura, the host of the talks, said the negotiations will focus on aspects of a peace roadmap calling for a transitional government, a new constitution and eventual elections.

Despite the talks, Syria's regime will be going ahead on Wednesday with parliamentary elections in government-controlled areas.

The UN does not recognise the vote, which has been dismissed by Assad's Syrian and foreign opponents as illegitimate.
Source :AFP