Syrian opposition in talks with Russia about Daraa peace deal, rebels say

The Syrian opposition began negotiations with Russian officers about an agreement to restore state sovereignty over rebel-held parts of the southern Daraa province, rebel negotiators said on Saturday.

They said a six-member civilian and military committee set up earlier by southern rebels held a preliminary meeting along the administrative borders of neighboring Sweida province.

"The committee held its first meeting with Russian officers who presented their demands," said Ibrahim Jabawi, a spokesman of the central operations room set up by the main Free Syrian Army groups in southern Syria. A second round of talks was expected on Saturday.

UN plea

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a new call Friday for "an immediate cessation" to military operations in southwest Syria, where government forces are attacking rebel-held areas.

Guterres is "deeply alarmed by the military offensive in southwestern Syria and its devastating toll on civilians," said a statement from his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

"The secretary-general recalls that the southwest area of Syria is part of a de-escalation agreement agreed between Jordan, Russia and the United States," the statement said.

Guterres "calls on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law, protect civilians and facilitate safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access."

The UN chief had made a similar call earlier this month, after Russian-backed government forces began attacking opposition-held parts of Daraa province on June 19.

Tens of thousands of Syrians have fled since the beginning of the offensive, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group says that nearly 100 civilians have been killed.