The U.N. special envoy for Syria says he will convene the first meeting of a task force meant to monitor the cease-fire in Syria that will go into effect at midnight Friday. Staffan de Mistura predicted a "crucial" day ahead of the start of the truce brokered by the United States and Russia.
Various sides in Syria`s civil war have a noon Friday deadline to say whether they will abide by the deal, which excludes U.N.-designated terrorist groups like the Islamic State organization and al-Qaida`s branch known as the Nusra Front.
De Mistura spoke to reporters Thursday in Geneva. Also at the press conference was his top humanitarian adviser, Jan Egeland.
Egeland said convoys have reached 110,000 people over the last two weeks, including the hard-hit eastern Ghouta region in the last three days.
UN envoy for Syria says truce monitors in place
26 February 2016
Read: 1127
The Latest on the conflict in Syria and the provisional cease-fire proposed by the U.S. and Russia (all times local):
-1780923278.jpg&h=190&w=280&zc=1&q=100)
