NEW YORK: Members of the United Nations Security Council vote for ceasefire in eastern Ghouta, at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Saturday. — Reuters UNITED NATIONS, Feb 25 (AFP): United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the Security Council's demand on Saturday for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria and said it must be "immediately" implemented.
With Russia's backing, the council voted unanimously to demand the truce "without delay" as Syrian war planes pounded the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta.
"The secretary-general stresses his expectation that the resolution will be immediately implemented and sustained, particularly to ensure the immediate, safe, unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services, the evacuation of the critically sick and wounded and the alleviation of the suffering of the Syrian people," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Guterres reminded all sides of their "absolute obligation" to protect civilians, adding that "efforts to combat terrorism do not supersede these obligations."
The long-delayed vote at the council came as the death toll from seven days of bombardment of Eastern Ghouta rose to more than 500.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks on Sunday with Russia's Vladimir Putin over implementing a UN ceasefire in Syria, France's presidency said, as new airstrikes pounded a rebel-held area.
The discussion, which was announced after the UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously demanded a 30-day truce, will centre on the "implementation of this resolution and on the political roadmap needed to achieve lasting peace in Syria", it said.
More than 500 civilians are thought to have died in a week of heavy bombardment by Syria's regime of the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta, just outside Damascus.
After the council vote, which had support from Moscow, Syrian warplanes backed by Russian air power launched new raids on Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The Britain-based monitor said at least 41 civilians were killed in Saturday's strikes, including eight children. Russia has denied taking part in the assault.
France and Germany have pushed for Russian support for the Syria ceasefire, which is mainly to allow aid to reach the besieged area and allow evacuations.
In its statement France's presidency said the ceasefire was "an essential first step", adding that it would be "extremely vigilant" over its implementation.
Another Ankara report adds: Turkey on Sunday welcomed the unanimous demand by the UN Security Council for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria but insisted that its own operations against groups deemed by Ankara to be terror organisations would continue.
With support from the Damascus regime's ally Russia, the Security Council Saturday adopted a resolution on the ceasefire to allow for aid delivery as concern rises over the humanitarian situation in the rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta.
Earlier, the two main groups controlling Syria's rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta have welcomed a UN Security Council demand for a ceasefire, but vowed to fight back in case of renewed attacks.
Islamist rebel groups Jaish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman issued separate statements late Saturday after the council demanded a ceasefire.
The resolution, adopted after repeated delays, did not specify when the truce would go into force but said it should be implemented "without delay" to allow for humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations.
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