Three civilians have been killed in Syria and dozens arrested since a ceasefire began early Thursday, a spokeswoman for the main opposition group the Syrian National Council said.

The opposition Syrian National Council voiced doubts about the regime's commitment., Photo: AFP

According to reports from the ground two of the victims were in the Hama region and there were arrests in Aleppo and Daraa, Basma Qoudmani said, adding, "We have visual proofs, videos and photos that heavy weapons are still in populated areas, sometimes they just have been relocated."

Qoudmani told a news conference in Geneva there appeared to be "numerous new checkpoints" which were "heavily armed".

The UN-backed ceasefire brokered by UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is still considered by the SNC to be "the last chance for a peaceful solution" to 13 months of bloodshed, the spokeswoman said.

Qoudmani maintained the opposition group's willingness to work with Annan "to be sure that international observers are deployed as quickly as possible."

The SNC has asked that human rights experts be part of any observer group on the ground, while also calling for the resumption of peaceful protest against the Syrian regime.

"The real test will be if there is shooting or not when people demonstrate," Qoudmani said.

Source: AFP