Annan: Syria agreed to end military operations on Thursday

The UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan says the Syrian government has given written pledges to end military operations throughout the country on Thursday. Annan said Wednesday that he had received a written pledge from the Syrian foreign ministry "to cease all military fighting throughout Syrian territory as of 6:00 am tomorrow (0300 GMT)'' in line with his six-point peace plan. The document, however, reserves Damascus' right to "respond proportionately to any attacks carried out by armed terrorist groups against civilians, government forces or public and private property," Annan's spokesman said. Syrian television, quoting a defense ministry official, also announced that military operations would be halted from Thursday but the armed forces would "remain on standby." The announcement came one day after Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said that Damascus has already withdrawn its troops from several cities as required by the deal. Syria has been scene of unrest since March last year and it is hoped the six-point plan will bring to an end the violence that has cost many lives.