The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Saturday unanimously backed a Syria ‘peace’ plan brokered by Turkey and Russia.

It involves a nationwide cease-fire and a return to peace talks by the Bashar al-Assad regime and opposition groups.

The resolution welcomes efforts by Moscow and Ankara to "end violence in Syria and jumpstart a political process".

It also announces a meeting between the warring sides in Astana, Kazakhstan -- which becomes a UNSC member on Sunday -- ahead of a revival of the Geneva talks on Feb. 8.

After five years of fighting and many attempts to end the bloodshed, the cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey came into effect at midnight local time (2200GMT) on Dec. 30.

However, the UN has voiced concerns that the Assad regime has been unresponsive to its requests for access to deliver humanitarian aid on the ground.

Meanwhile, opposition forces said that regime troops and foreign terrorist groups supporting Assad violated the nationwide cease-fire by attacking 33 locations.

The war has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced, creating nearly five million refugees.

PHOTO CAPTION

A man rides a bicycle near damaged buildings in the opposition held besieged city of Douma, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, Syria December 30, 2016. REUTERS

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