Hammond: Syria ceasefire requires regime, Russia ’change behaviour’

A deal to end fighting in Syria requires a "change in behaviour" from the regime of Assad and his ally Russia to succeed, Britain’s foreign minister said on Friday.

World powers agreed to implement a "nationwide cessation of hostilities" beginning in a week’s time at crisis talks over Syria’s fighting in Munich, Germany, Middle East Eye reported.

"If implemented fully and properly fully ... this will be an important step towards relieving the killing and suffering in Syria," Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement.

"But it will only succeed if there is a major change of behaviour by the Syrian regime and its supporters."

Hammond cautioned that Assad ally Russia "claims to be attacking terrorist groups and yet consistently bombs non-extremist groups including civilians", NDTV reported.

"If this agreement is to work, this bombing will have to stop: no cessation of hostilities will last if moderate opposition groups continue to be targeted," he said.