Pakistan, July 19 -- DAMASCUS - Syria's interim government on Saturday announced a ceasefire in the violence-hit southern province of Sweida, urging all parties to respect the truce. The move follows a week of deadly clashes between Druze factions, Bedouin fighters, and government forces that killed nearly 1,000 people.

According to the Syrian presidency, the ceasefire is immediate and comprehensive. Government security forces have already begun deploying in Sweida to enforce calm. President Ahmed al-Sharaa, in a national address, credited "Arab and American mediation" for restoring order, while condemning Israeli airstrikes as destabilising.

Sweida, home to Syria's Druze minority, became the epicentre of violence last weekend. What beg...