Syrian ceasefire begins to hold after isolated clashes
A nationwide ceasefire in Syria, brokered by Russia and Turkey, appeared to be holding Friday, apart from initial isolated clashes. The ceasefire went into effect Thursday midnight after an announcement by President Vladimir Putin of an agreement between the Syrian government and major rebel groups to observe a truce and sit down for peace talks to end the nearly six years of brutal warfare. The Islamist groups were not included in the ceasefire deal.