Syria ceasefire takes effect with Assad emboldened, opposition wary

By Tom Perry BEIRUT (Reuters) - A nationwide ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia came into effect in Syria on Monday evening, the second attempt this year by Washington and Moscow to halt the five-year-old civil war. The Syrian army, announced the truce at 7 pm (1600 GMT), the moment it took effect, saying the seven-day "regime of calm" would be applied across Syria. Rebel groups fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad did not immediately declare publicly whether they would r