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The UN Security Council has unanimously voted to back a ceasefire deal in Syria led by Turkey and Russia, as well as plans for fresh peace talks next month. The resolution, drafted by Russia, also calls for rapid access for humanitarian aid to be delivered across the country. The ceasefire, which began just over a day ago, has mostly held.

President Obama was left out of peace talks in Syria in December that came up with a ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire was brokered between Russia, Turkey and Iran, but the Russian envoy told reporters today he does expect the US to be involved in future peace talks.

The latest on the conflict in Syria, and the Russia and Turkey brokered cease-fire agreement between Syria's government and opposition rebels. All times local. 10 p.m. U.S. deputy ambassador Michele Sison says the Obama administration strongly supports a nationwide cease-fire in Syria accompanied by "unfettered humanitarian access" but regrets that details of the agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey have not yet been made public. Sison told the U.N. Security Council after it unanimously adopted a resolution Saturday backing Russian and Turkish efforts to end the fighting in Syria and jump-start peace negotiations that "the goals are laudable and we...

John Kerry says partition of Syria could be part of ‘plan B’ if peace talks fail US secretary of state tells committee it ‘may be too late’ to keep Syria whole and suggests Washington would support partition if ceasefire is unsuccessful Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor Tuesday 23 February 2016 13.39 EST John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has said he will move towards a plan B that could involve a partition of Syria if a planned ceasefire due to start in the next few days does not materialise, or if a genuine shift to a transitional government does not...