MUNICH — Diplomats agreed Friday to work toward a temporary "cessation of hostilities" in Syria's civil war within a week, although efforts to secure a lasting cease-fire fell short.
The deal appeared to be the result of a compromise between the United States, which had wanted an immediate cease-fire, and Russia, which had proposed one to start March 1.
Secretary of State John Kerry, however, defended the agreement as what the Syrian opposition wanted.
"They wanted it called and defined as a cessation of hostilities. That is very much in line with their thinking and their hopes," he said.
Speaking for the group, Kerry praised the results as a significant accomplishment but noted that a cessation-of-hostilities agreement, if it can be achieved, would only be a "pause" in fighting and that more work would need to be done to turn it into a fully-fledged cease-fire.
Read Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.