US and Russia agree to extend Syria truce to Aleppo

The US and Russia have agreed to work with Syria's warring parties to extend a shaky truce to the city of Aleppo, the US State Department said on Wednesday.

"Since this went into effect today at 00:01 in Damascus, we have seen an overall decrease in violence in these areas," spokesman Mark Toner said. Syrian state media also reported that the government would respect a 48-hour Aleppo truce starting on Thursday.

"To ensure this continues in a sustainable way, we are coordinating closely with Russia to finalise enhanced monitoring efforts of this renewed cessation," Toner said.

Government airstrikes and rebel rocket fire have killed hundreds in Syria's divided second city since the truce broke down in late April, as UN-sponsored talks between government and opposition stalled in Geneva.

Last week, Washington and Moscow agreed to monitor a truce between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition fighters in the Latakia and Eastern Ghouta areas.

Aleppo, a major commercial center in the north of the country, was excluded from their efforts and fierce fighting continued there.

Russian officials initially said they would not try to rein in Assad's forces, whom they said were targeting "terrorists" who were not parties to the ceasefire.

But US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura have since petitioned Russia for a return to a nationwide truce agreed in February.

"We look to Russia as a co-chair of the International Syria Support Group to press for the Assad regime's compliance with this effort," Toner said.

"And the United States will do its part with the opposition," he added.

"It is critical that Russia redouble its efforts to influence the regime to abide fully by the cessation."

Once a nationwide "cessation of hostilities" is again in place, the US and UN hope the warring parties will return to peace talks.

Kerry has warned that if Assad's government does not agree to begin a political transition away from his rule by 1 August, it may face unspecified "repercussions".