Air strikes killed 37 people in a Syrian town hours before a ceasefire began, rescuers have said.
The rebel group Faylaq al-Rahman, one of at least three operating in the sprawling region, said intense government attacks targeted the area it controls on Thursday.
Rescuers, known as White Helmets, said the casualties were from an air strike that hit an underground shelter in the town of Arbeen in the eastern Ghouta region near the capital, Damascus.
Rebel spokesman Wael Oweilan said on Friday negotiations that with Russia will follow to allow for the evacuation of civilians from the area.
A similar deal with another rebel group, Ahrar al-Sham, led to the evacuation of hundreds of fighters and civilians from Harasta, another eastern Ghouta town.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here