DIPLOMATS WANT TEMPORARY SYRIA TRUCE IN A WEEK

Munich — Diplomats trying to secure a ceasefire for the civil war in Syria fell short early today in organizing an immediate truce but agreed to try to work out details and implement a temporary “cessation of hostilities” in the coming week.

Although foreign ministers from the International Syria Support Group managed to seal an agreement to “accelerate and expand” deliveries of humanitarian aid to besieged Syrian communities beginning this week, their failure to agree on a ceasefire leaves the most critical step to resuming peace talks unresolved. It was not clear from their comments afterward if deep differences regarding the truce and which groups would be eligible for it could be overcome.