Syria's mainstream political opposition said on Saturday it had not received a copy of the proposed US-Russian deal and would only react after consulting members, some of whom have expressed scepticism about the success of the deal.
Bassma Kodmani, spokeswoman for the opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said the body welcomed the deal "if it is going to be enforced." The onus was on Russia as its influence "was the only way to get the regime to comply," her statement added.
Syria's moderate Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels said they saw little chance of the new US-Russian peace deal succeeding because Damascus and Moscow would not abide by it.
Fares al-Bayoush, head of an FSA group called the Northern Division, said Russia and Damascus had not observed the last agreement, and the chances of the new deal succeeding were the same as the last one.
Captain Abdul Salam Abdul Razak, military spokesman for the rebel Nour al-Din al Zinki Brigades, said the deal would only give the Syrian army an chance to gather forces and pour more Iranian-backed militias into the main battles raging in Aleppo.
For its part, Turkey welcomed the deal on a nationwide truce in Syria and is preparing to provide humanitarian aid to the northern city of Aleppo in conjunction with the United Nations, the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
Turkey, which launched its first major military incursion into Syria two and half weeks ago, said a cessation of fighting and the provision of aid around Aleppo was particularly key. It said it would support efforts to ensure the truce holds and to turn the deal into a longer-term political solution.
In turn, European Union's top diplomat Federica Mogherini welcomed the Syria truce deal and called on the United Nations to prepare proposals for political transition talks in Syria.
"The agreement... is very welcome. All parties to the conflict, other than groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United Nations Security Council, must now ensure its effective implementation," Mogherini said.
She also said in a statement that the EU joined others "urging the UN to prepare a proposal for political transition" to serve as "the starting point for resumption of the intra-Syrian talks."
British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called on Russia to use all its influence to ensure that the Syrian government complies with its obligations under a diplomatic deal agreed by Moscow and Washington.
"It's vital that the regime in Damascus now delivers on its obligations, and I call on Russia to use all its influence to ensure this happens. They will be judged by their actions alone," Johnson said in a statement.
REUTERS