The UN-Arab League mediator for the Syrian conflict, Lakhdar Brahimi, told the UN Security Council yesterday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has accepted a holiday ceasefire, although a final announcement was expected to come later.
"President accepted, statement to be issued tomorrow," a diplomat present at a closed-door briefing said Brahimi told the 15-nation council via a video link.
Brahimi was expanding on remarks he made earlier to reporters in Cairo. After Brahimi spoke, the Syrian government appeared to contradict him, saying that its military command was still studying a proposal for a holiday ceasefire with rebels.
On the way into the council meeting, Russian UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said Moscow hoped Brahimi's plan for a ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid ul-Adha would be successful.
Chinese ambassador, Li Baodong, echoed Churkin's remarks.
"We support a truce and we support Mr Brahimi's effort," Li said. "I think it's important for all parties to understand the importance of peace and stability.