Syria ceasefire holding but no 'victory dances' yet

The US State Department said Tuesday there has been no significant violation of the fragile ceasefire in Syria in the past 24 hours, but a spokesman noted "nobody's doing any victory dances" yet.

"Over the last 24 hours, we have not been apprised of any claims of any additional violations of any significance," spokesman John Kirby said.

"It's a very fluid environment and we're just going to keep monitoring as closely as we can," he said.

World powers have thrown their weight behind the landmark truce, negotiated by the US and Russia, as a way to bring an end to Syria's conflict.

The cessation of hostilities between the Syrian regime and opposition groups has been in place since Saturday, and President Bashar al-Assad told German broadcaster ARD on Tuesday he would do his part to guarantee its success.

Kirby welcomed the reduction in violence, but noted there have been reports of violations in past days.

"The right number here is zero," he said.

"Nobody's taken their foot off the pedal here. Nobody's doing any victory dances," Kirby said.

"There are still innocent Syrian people that are suffering today. It's not just because there continues to be violence and bloodshed in Syria, although that is troubling enough. It's also because still so many of them need access to food, medicine, water and supplies."

The ceasefire does not apply to territory held by the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, and the US continues to launch air strikes against the groups.

More than 270,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict erupted with anti-government protests in March 2011.
SourcE :AFP