Syria army, rebels say to cease fire on Friday

Syrias army and main rebel force said they will cease fire on Friday, in line with an internationally backed truce during a Muslim holiday, but both reserved the right to respond to any aggression.A peace initiative by UN and Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi calls for a truce during the four-day Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha from Friday marking the end of the hajj pilgrimage.It was backed this week by the United Nations Security Council, and a spokesman for UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the world is now watching to ensure both sides stick by their commitment.The United States expressed the hope the ceasefire will be respected.What we are hoping and expecting is that they will not just talk the talk of ceasefire, but that they will walk the walk, beginning with the regime, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.The army announced it would adhere to the ceasefire in a statement read on television.On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, military operations will cease on Syrian territory as of Friday morning, until Monday the 29th, it said.But it also said the army would react if armed terrorist groups continue to fire on civilians and government troops, attack public and private property and use car bombs and improvised explosive devices.It also warned of a response if rebels reinforce their current positions or receive ammunition, and to any fighters crossing from neighbouring countries.The Free Syrian Army, chief among many rebel groups battling President Bashar al-Assads forces, responded positively soon afterwards, saying it too would lay down its weapons as long as regime troops adhere to the ceasefire.We will respect the ceasefire from tomorrow morning if the Syrian army does the same, said General Mustafa al-Sheikh of the FSA, which had previously said it doubts Damascus would stand by any commitment.But if they fire a single shot, we will respond with 100. So we reserve the right to respond, he said by telephone from Turkey.He cautioned, however, that he could not speak on behalf of all rebels.There is not a unified command for all the factions. We speak on behalf of a big enough number of fighters, but there are other armed factions who follow other commands, Sheikh said.An April ceasefire announced by Brahimis predecessor, former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, failed to take hold.If the latest does hold, it would be the first real breakthrough in halting -- even temporarily -- the 19-month conflict that rights groups say has killed more than 35,000 people.Eid al-Adha starts with prayers at dawn on Friday, expected at around 5:30 am local time in Syria, or 0230 GMT.