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US, Russia ceasefire in Syria to come into effect this week
On Sunday 140 died in bombings in Homs and Damascus as the violence continued.
(File photo) Syrian army soldiers and civilians inspect the site of two car bombs in Homs, Syria
The US and Russia have announced that a planned cessation of hostilities in Syria will come into effect at midnight on 27 February.
Their statement said the truce did not include Islamic State (IS) and the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front.
World powers agreed on 12 February that a truce would come into effect within a week, but that deadline passed and scepticism remains over the new plan.
On Sunday 140 died in bombings in Homs and Damascus as the violence continued.
More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed in the conflict which began in March 2011.
Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe.
