Syria cessation of hostilities an 'important step': White House

The White House said on Friday an agreement for a break in hostilities in the Syrian conflict is significant, but there is still more to be done in the peace talks. "This was an important step, but the work is far from over," White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters in a briefing. Major powers agreed on Friday to begin a cessation of hostilities in Syria in a week, but Russia pressed on with bombing in support of its ally President Bashar al-Assad, who vowed to fight until he regained f