At least 47 killed in Syria as truce collapses

Beirut: At least 47 people were killed on Friday in Syria on the first day of a truce to mark Eid Al Adha, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

The Britain-based watchdog which said the truce collapsed in several region gave an early evening death toll of 47 dead — 16 civilians, 19 soldiers and 12 rebels.

The Syrian government and main rebel Free Syrian Army had agreed to observe the truce brokered by UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, but both sides had pledged to respond if attacked.

The Al Nosra Front, which has claimed it carried out deadly car bombings and other rebel attacks in recent months, has categorically rejected any truce.