A total of 135 people were killed in the first week of a fragile truce in areas covered by the cessation of hostilities agreement in Syria,. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights yesterday said that at least 45 rebel and Islamic fighters, and 32 civilians, including seven children, were among the dead.
In the period between February 27th and March 5th, at least 25 soldiers fighting for the government of President Bashar al-Assad were also killed as well as 27 fighters with the Syrian Kurdish Forces. Syrian Observatory said that in areas not covered by the ceasefire, which came into force on February 27th, 552 people were killed.
United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura said the talks, originally due to begin tomorrow in Geneva, would get off to a staggered start later in the week, with delegates arriving from Wednesday onwards. He said the delay was due to logistical and technical reasons and also for the ceasefire to better settle down.