From our news desk this morning:
Death Toll In Baghdad Double Bombing Rises To 73
Authorities in Iraq say the death toll from a double bombing at a market in Baghdad’s Shi’ite neighborhood of Sadr City rose to 73 on February 29 after several critically wounded victims died overnight.
Five people remained missing and 112 people were still hospitalized on February 29, one day after a blast ripped through the crowded Mredi market and a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-filled vest amid a crowd that had gathered to help victims of the first blast.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called on security forces to "exert further efforts to prevent the terrorists from carrying out their crimes against innocent civilians."
The February 28 double bombing came hours after Islamic State suicide bombers and gunmen attacked a government compound for security forces in Baghdad's western suburb of Abu Ghraib, just five kilometers from the strategic Baghdad International Airport.
At least 12 government and paramilitary soldiers were killed and 35 others wounded in that attack.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
Fighting IS not a priority for Turkey: US spy chief
Turkey does not place a high priority on fighting Islamic State militants and as a result foreign fighters are able to travel through the country into Syria, U.S. intelligence chief James Clapper has said, AFP reports.
"I think Turkey has other priorities and other interests," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Fragile ceasefire approaches, but several conflicts still going on in Syria
As the deadline for the ceasefire gets ever closer, the BBC reminds us that the ceasefire will be "incomplete, partial and fundamentally fragile."
The BBC also points out that there are several conflicts going on in Syria, not just a fight between a unified group of rebels and the government:
For a start, there are several conflicts going on within Syria:
There is a war for the future control of Syria itself, which pits the Syrian regime and its allies against the rebels and their supporters like Turkey and the Gulf states
Then there is the war being waged by the West against so-called Islamic State (IS)
Lastly, there is the struggle between Turkey and the Kurds to contain a broader Kurdish expansion
UN Syria taskforce meets in Geneva ahead of ceasefire deadline
Representatives of 17 countries met in Geneva this afternoon to help provide momentum ahead of a midnight deadline for a cessation of hostilities in Syria, the UN has said, AFP reports.
The meeting was presided over by UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura and representatives from the United States and Russia.
The fighting should halt at midnight Damascus time (2200 GMT) although the deal allows fighting to continue against the IS group, the Al-Nusra Front and other jihadists.
WATCH: Demonstration in Idlib against ceasefire
A group of Syrian men in the town of Ma'arat al-Numa'an in Idlib province demonstrated against the upcoming ceasefire this afternoon, chanting that a ceasefire should begin with the departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Russian former diplomat says Assad would win a free election in Syria
It's Friday and I can't resist sharing this piece of propaganda from RIA Novosti. The pro-Kremlin outlet has got Russia's former Ambassador to Syria, Andrey Balkanov, to say that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and indeed the entire Assad government would win if a free election was held today.
The piece is illustrated with a photo of a small blond child holding a Syrian flag that has a photo of Assad's head superimposed on it.
Here's some of what Balkanov had to say:
"According to our estimates, if there were free elections [in Syria], then those people who are right now in Damascus would win. And the President," Balkanov said.
"That is why we are so confident in a political process. These are our allies, and they will win."
But wait, there's more:
Balkanov denied reports that a replacement for Assad was being sought, who was approved by both Russia and "other countries."
"This is a very clever, crafty politics. I think that as the president, he is worth more in his qualities than those who recommend that he go. For example, can [Assad] in all seriousness be compared to Merkel? She is far weaker as the leader of a country," Balkanov said.
"Our point of view remains unchanged. Let the people themselves determine who they want to govern them."
Saudi-backed Syrian opposition confirm agreement to truce
The High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the main Saudi-backed Syrian opposition group, have issued a statement in English confirming their agreement to a temporary ceasefire in Syria.
Putin Can Cash in on Syria Gains With Cease-Fire: AP
The Associated Press's Vladimir Isachenkov has written a good analysis of Russia's current position vis-a-vis Syria, arguing that Russia's Vladimir Putin will be able to cash in on his gains in Syria when the ceasefire takes place on Feb. 26, so that he can "emerge as a peace broker with international stature."
Here's an extract, read the full piece here.
The Syrian army's significant advances around Aleppo will allow Damascus to negotiate with its foes from a position of strength, while the cease-fire that is scheduled to go into effect at midnight Friday offers Putin an opportunity to emerge from the five-month bombing campaign stronger than when it started.
A halt in fighting could also help avoid a looming confrontation with Turkey, which has vowed to stop at nothing to halt a Kurdish offensive north of Aleppo. A Turkish incursion would dramatically raise the stakes and could drive Putin into a corner, an escalation he wants to avoid.
A couple more tweets with details of Nusra leader Jolani's audio message coming up:
Nusra leader rejects truce, urges stronger attacks in Syria
Reuters has a few more details on the audio message by Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate the Al-Nusra Front, released just hours before a ceasefire is set to go into force -- excluding Nusra and the IS group.
Leader Abu Mohamad al-Golani said in an audio message played on Orient News TV that if Syria's war was not resolved, the consequences would spread to Sunni Muslims in other parts of the region including the Arabian Peninsula.