UN Security Council adopts resolution supporting Syria ceasefire, peace talks

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the Syria cease-fire arrangement brokered by Russia and Turkey as well as a new peace talks plan among Syrian conflict parties. The nationwide cease-fire in Syria, agreed upon by the Syrian government and major opposition groups, came into force at midnight local time Thursday, as the latest attempt to end nearly six years of civil war. It aims to pave the way for new peace talks between the parties set to be held in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan next month. The 15-nation council "welcomes and supports the efforts by Russia and Turkey to end violence in Syria and jumpstart a political process," and looks forward to the Astana meeting, which it called "an important step" ahead of the resumption of negotiations under UN auspices in Geneva. According to local monitor group, the nationwide cease-fire is holding in most areas in Syria despite sporadic breaches near Damascus and in the countryside of the northern city of Aleppo. The chronic conflicts in Syria have killed more than 300,000 people and displaced nearly 11 million others.