Moscow (AFP) - Government forces and rebels in the Syrian battleground city of Aleppo agreed Monday to extend their truce for a second time, the army said, as the United States and Russia vowed to "redouble" efforts to end the five-year conflict.
The cessation of hostilities was initially to last for two days but was later extended until Tuesday at 00:01 am (21:01 GMT Monday).
Announcing a further prolongation, the army command said: "The 'regime of silence' in Aleppo and its province has been extended by 48 hours from Tuesday 01:00 am (local time) to midnight on Wednesday."
The rebels had yet to confirm the extension of the truce, which was decided after nearly 300 people were killed in an uptick in fighting in Syria's largest city since late April.
The announcement came as Russia and the United States agreed to boost efforts to find a political solution to the five-year war which has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions.
"The Russian Federation and United States are determined to redouble efforts to reach a political settlement of the Syrian conflict," a joint US-Russian statement published by the Russian foreign ministry said.
The two powers also agreed to try extend a February 27 ceasefire across the whole of the country.
The ceasefire, which was brokered by Washington and Moscow and excluded jihadist rebel groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad's forces, was greatly strained by the upsurge in violence in Aleppo.
Washington and Moscow on Monday hailed some "progress" in reducing the fighting but admitted to ongoing "difficulties" in achieving a de-escalation in some areas as well as in ensuring humanitarian access to besieged areas.
A Syrian man rides his motorbike past destroyed buildings in Aleppo's Bab al-Hadid neighbourhood, targeted recently by regime air strikes (AFP Photo/Karam Al-Masri)
