Syrian rebel army says ready to respect truce

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Syrian rebel army said Monday, April 9 it is ready to respect a truce brokered by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan if the regime of President Bashar al-Assad abides by the peace deal, AFP reports.

"We have announced that we will cease operations against the army of the regime on the morning of April 10, and we will respect this pledge if the regime commits to respecting the terms of the (UN) plan," Free Syrian Army spokesman Colonel Kassem Saadeddine said in a statement.

He said the FSA reiterated its "total commitment to the plan" which demands the regime withdraw from protest cities on Tuesday with a complete ceasefire set for 48 hours later.

The peace plan appears to be in jeopardy after the regime laid down conditions for a pullout, saying it would only carry out its side of the bargain if rebels first handed over written guarantees to stop fighting.

Rebel army chief Colonel Riyadh al-Asaad countered: "We are committed to the Annan plan... We will present our guarantees and our commitments to the international community, but not to this (Syrian) regime."