Fighting appeared to stop across most areas of western Syria today after a landmark "cessation of hostilities" came into effect under a U.S.-Russian plan which warring sides in the five-year conflict have accepted. If the temporary halt in fighting holds, it will mark the first time world powers have been able to negotiate a pause in the civil war. Under the fragile agreement, Syria's government and its enemies are expected to cease fighting so aid can reach civilians and peace talks can resume. A monitoring group and the United Nations reported only isolated fire in western Syria after the temporary ceasefire began at midnight. The United Nations said it expected breaches in the temporary truce and urged restraint in curbing any new outbreaks of fighting. "Let's pray that this works because frankly this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace," said U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura. Damascus and its ally Russia, as well as a range of insurgent groups fighting against them, have said they would take part in the plan. The temporary truce does not apply to...
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