Timeline of Syrian ceasefire

A fragile "cessation of hostilities" has been in effect in parts of Syria for the past week, despite accusations of violations.

The accord was drawn up by Russia and the United States, and has the unanimous backing of the UN Security Council.

It applies to combat zones between regime forces, backed by Russian airpower, and rebels. What is not included is more than half of the country's territory that is controlled by Islamic State group (IS) jihadists or Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front.

February 27

- The unprecedented cessation of hostilities begins at 0000 local time (2200 GMT on Friday).

- Russia says it will suspend its air strikes for one day to support the agreement and avoid "bombing mistakes".

- The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and militants report a precarious calm in the central regions around Homs and Hama, in Damascus and around Aleppo in the north. No air strikes signalled against rebel regions.

- One exception is near Abbasid Square in Damascus, where about a dozen shells hit an area disputed for the past three years by government troops and rebels.

February 28

- Aircraft attack six locations in Aleppo province and one in Hama, the Syrian Observatory says. The director of a pro-rebel press agency says the aircraft were Russian.

- Russian Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko accuses rebels of violating the ceasefire nine times.

- The Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee, which represents most of the opposition groups, says the ceasefire has been broken two dozen times by Syria's government and its allies, leaving 29 dead.

- The UN says it will distribute supplies to an extra 154,000 people in besieged areas over the next five days.

February 29

- The Observatory reports some rebel rocket fire on government-held neighbourhoods of Aleppo city but no casualties, along with nine Russian air strikes on a town in the central province of Hama.

- The Red Crescent begins delivering UN-provided hygiene supplies to the rebel-held town of Moadamiyet al-Sham southwest of Damascus.

March 1

- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pledges to do his part to guarantee the success of the ceasefire.

March 2

- The White House expresses concern about reports of Syrian tank and artillery attacks on civilian areas.

March 3

- The Syrian Observatory says that during the first five days of the truce there has been a "huge drop" in the toll of civilians killed.

- UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura says the ceasefire has shown clear signs of progress, but there is no guarantee it will succeed.

- Russia's defence ministry says it has registered 44 ceasefire violations in the past 24 hours. The Syrian opposition says the regime and its allies have committed around 100 violations since the truce began.

March 4

- Warplanes twice strike a key rebel bastion east of Damascus for the first time since the truce began, the Observatory says.

- Many Syrians take advantage of the ceasefire to resume anti-government Friday protests under the slogan "The Revolution Continues!"

- The UN begins delivering aid to three rebel towns east of Damascus.

- Hijab says "conditions are not ripe" for a resumption of peace talks set for March 9, citing continued sieges on cities, lack of access for humanitarian aid and ceasefire violations.

- European and Russian leaders express support for the truce, but there are sharp differences of opinion over Assad's plans for elections in April.
Source :AFP