UN Syria envoy hails 'significant drop in violence'

The UN's Syria envoy has applauded a fall in violence through the first 24 hours of a fragile ceasefire but said security concerns meant aid convoys had not yet deployed.

Staffan de Mistura told reporters that the powers which brokered the truce - the United States and Russia - would likely provide a full assessment of the pact in the coming days or hours.

But he said that reports reaching his office indicated "a significant drop in violence."

He noted that isolated reports of conflict persisted, especially last night, but that by sunrise today the broad picture was positive.

A key test of the ceasefire agreed last week is whether warring parties will allow desperately needed humanitarian supplies to reach Syria's embattled civilians.

Mr De Mistura dismissed reports by Turkish state media that UN trucks today crossed the border towards the battleground Syrian city of Aleppo.
 [rte.ie]
13/9/16