U.N. chief welcomes Syria ceasefire deal, urges its implementation

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed the U.S.-Russian announcement of an agreement on a cessation of hostilities in Syria to take effect this weekend and called on all warring parties to implement it, Ban's spokesman said. A cessation of hostilities is meant to be "a first step towards a more durable ceasefire," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters about the agreement, which is meant to take effect on Saturday, Feb. 27.