Syrian opposition urges UN to halt truce violations

Syria's main opposition coalition urged the United Nations Security Council on Thursday to put an "immediate" halt to what it said were regime violations of a shaky ceasefire.

The truce, brokered by regime backer Russia and rebel sponsor Turkey, has brought quiet to large parts of Syria since it began on December 30 but is threatened by a regime bid to retake rebel-held Wadi Barada, source of the main water supply to Damascus.

The coalition "condemns attempts by the government of (President) Bashar (al-Assad), Iran and their terrorist militias to continue with violations and with the war crimes that are being carried out, especially in the Wadi Barada area," the National Coalition opposition body said.

It called on the Security Council and the guarantors of the truce to "halt attacks immediately and to condemn and punish those who commit violations".

The ceasefire was meant to pave the way for peace negotiations later this month in the Kazakh capital Astana.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday warned that ceasefire violation by the Syrian regime and its backers were putting the Kazakhstan talks at risk.

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