Syrian government accepts halt to "combat operations"

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad speaks during an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais in Damascus, in this handout picture provided by SANA on February 20, 2016. Picture taken February 20, 2016. REUTERS/SANA/Handout via Reuters

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - The Syrian government said on Tuesday it accepted a halt to "combat operations" in line with a U.S.-Russian plan and said it would coordinate with Russia to decide which groups and areas would be included. The Syrian government said in a statement it stressed the importance of sealing the borders and halting foreign support to armed groups, and "preventing these organisations from strengthening their capabilities or changing their positions, in order to avoid what may lead to wrecking this agreement". (Reporting by Kinda Makieh; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Andrew Heavens)