DAMASCUS (AFP) - The Syrian army said Wednesday (July 6) it would observe a 72-hour ceasefire across the country, in an announcement coinciding with the festival marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

"A 'regime of silence' will be applied across all territory of the Syrian Arab Republic for 72 hours from 1pm (6pm Singapore time) on July 6," the army said in a statement republished by official media.