SYRIA’S foreign minister stressed yesterday that no UN or other international troops would occupy his country under the latest ceasefire deal.

Speaking to reporters in Damascus, Walid al-Moallem reiterated his government’s support for the “de-escalation zones” plan agreed at the fourth round of talks in the Kazakh capital Astana last week.

Syria’s allies Russia and Iran and insurgent backer Turkey, which negotiated the accord, will act as guarantors.