International Support Group on Syria agrees on need for ceasefire

Diplomats meeting over the weekend in Vienna agreed on a road-map to de-escalate the Syrian civil war and implement a ceasefire as soon as practicable with the aim of holding elections in 18 months's time.

The members of the International Support Group on Syria do not yet agree on all the issues surrounding the war in Syria, including the question of what happens with the current head of state, Bashar al-Aasad, US Secretary of State, John Kerry, said in a statement publised on 14 November.

However, "we do agree on this: It is time for the bleeding in Syria to stop. It is time to deprive the terrorists of any single kilometer in which to hide. It is time that we come together to help the Syrian people embark on the difficult but extraordinarily high imperative of rebuilding their country."

Based on the above, the diplomats agreed on the need to kick-start formal negotiations, under UN auspices, between the Syrian opposition - chosen by Syrians themselves - and the regime by no later, "hopefully", than 1 January 2016.

That would be followed in six months' time by a the establishment of a non-sectarian government, set a schedule for the drafting of a new constitution and determine eligibility for voting and candidacy in elections.

Free elections would be held under the new constitution in 18 months' time.

According to the State Department the conflict has left one in twenty Syrians wounded or dead, displaced half the country's population from its homes and compelled one in five Syrians to seek refue abroad.

A ceasefire, enforced by the UN, would be implemented as soon as the representatives of the Syrian Government and opposition have taken initial steps towards the UN-supervised transition.

However, it would not apply to either Daesh or the other main terrorist group operating in Syria, Nusrah, the statement read.