Syria’s fragile ceasefire is set to be tested by mass protests today, despite the continued presence of government troops and heavy weapons in urban areas.

Kofi Annan, the UN and Arab League envoy, said yesterday that Syria was experiencing a “rare moment of calm on the ground” and called for the immediate withdrawal of security forces from cities, in accordance with the terms of the truce.

Both the opposition and the regime claimed the truce was not being fully observed. State media reported “terrorists” had targeted a bus carrying soldiers to the second city of Aleppo with a roadside bomb, killing an officer. The opposition, meanwhile, said the regime was only “partially” observing the cessation of hostilities. According to the UK-based Syrian Human Rights Observatory, five people were killed across the country, three by snipers.