Rebels agree to form delegation for Russian-brokered peace talks

Syria's opposition has committed to forming a delegation for planned peace talks in Kazakhstan being organised by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran, according to a document obtained by The New Arab.

Twelve rebel groups have signed a deal to independently form a delegation by January 16, 2017 to attend the negotiations set to begin on January 23, 2017 in the Kazakh capital Astana.

Ahrar al-Sham, a powerful Islamist rebel group, did not sign the agreement.

"There will be no alternative to a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis. The political process in Syria must begin urgently," the document read.

"The opposition must form a negotiations delegation to reach a political solution through a peaceful path," it added.

Russia submitted on Friday a draft resolution to the UN Security Council supporting the ceasefire it helped broker in Syria as well as planned peace talks.

Moscow drew up the text endorsing the plan it spearheaded with the help of Turkey and Iran for a nationwide ceasefire.

The truce went into effect at midnight and appeared to be mainly holding Friday despite reports of sporadic clashes near Damascus.

The ceasefire - which involves 12 groups representing 60,000 fighters who control "large chunks" of Syria - appeared to be "holding adequately," the Russia's UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said.

The deal excludes extremist groups including the Islamic State group and Fateh al-Sham Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate previously known as al-Nusra Front.

Russia's plan, which pointedly excludes the United States, does not overlap with an initiative for negotiations in February mediated by UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura, Churkin said.

Nevertheless, Moscow expects the UN will be "fully involved" in preparing for the Astana talks, he added.

"We hope others will join in, like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar," Churkin said.