DAMASCUS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received a phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, according to the state news agency SANA.
The two sides discussed the development of a cease-fire agreement which was reached by Turkey and Russia and went into force in Idlib, Syria, on March 5, the report said, adding that violations committed by the rebels were also discussed.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday that cautious calm is prevailing in part of Idlib province.
The cease-fire is still holding in spite of some violations, said Observatory.
The cease-fire agreement comes after direct confrontation between Turkey and Syrian forces took place several times in Idlib over the past two months since the Syrian forces launched a campaign against the Turkey-backed rebel groups.
