A ceasefire is in effect in Syria’s second city, after US and Russia concluded arrangements for a cessation of violence in Aleppo and surrounding areas.

A ceasefire is in effect in Syria's second city, after US and Russia concluded arrangements for a cessation of violence in Aleppo and surrounding areas.

The truce went into effect early on Thursday, with violations reported by Takfiri terrorists.

Russia Today reported that a Syrian was martyred and several others were injured when Takfiri insurgents fired shells on al-Maydan neighborhood.

Late on Wednesday night, the Syrian army command announced its forces will be committed to truce.

“A truce will be applied in Aleppo for 48 hours as of 1 a.m. on Thursday May 5th, 2016,” SANA news agency quoted Syrian army’s general command said in a statement.

Earlier, Russian defence ministry said its ceasefire monitors had agreed with
their US counterparts to oversee this truce until midnight on May 6.

But for his part, US Secretary of State John Kerry said a new Aleppo truce had already begun at midnight Syrian time (2101 GMT Tuesday) and that violence had already fallen off.

"We've seen an overall decrease in violence in those areas even though there are some reports of continued fighting in some locations," Kerry said.

Kerry added that US officials in Geneva were coordinating with their Russian colleagues on "enhanced monitoring efforts for this renewed cessation."

And he stressed that for Washington, the "cessation of hostilities" must spread nationwide and underpin a return by both sides to peace talks in Geneva.