Syrian warplanes strike near Damascus despite ceasefire, Syrian observatory says

Syrian government warplanescarried out several airstrikes in the Eastern Ghouta area eastof Damascus on Sunday, a day after the Syrian military declareda cessation of hostilities in the area, the Syrian Observatoryfor Human Rights said.

The British-based monitoring group said Saturday had been relatively calm after the ceasefire took effect with isolated
incidents of shellfire.

On Sunday, six airstrikes hit the towns of Douma and AinTerma in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta, it reported.

There was no immediate comment from the government or army.

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Syria's military declared a "cessation of fightingactivities" starting at noon on Saturday in besieged EasternGhouta, which has long been controlled by the opposition.

One rebel group in EasternGhoutaquickly welcomed theceasefire.

A separate statement from Cairo-based political oppositionmovement Al-Ghad, headed by Ahmad Jarba, said the agreement hadbeen reached in Cairo, sponsored by Egypt and Russia and withthe involvement of mainstream rebel groups.

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There was to be a fullceasefirein EasternGhouta, nogovernment forces would enter the area and aid would be allowedin, it said.

Numerous attempts at a lastingceasefirein western Syria,where rebels have lost ground to government forces and theirallies over the last year, have often collapsed with both sidestrading the blame.

The United States, Russia and Jordan reached aceasefireand"de-escalation agreement" for southwestern Syria this month,which has reduced violence. That agreement did not includeEasternGhouta.