The International Committee of the Red Cross today announced it is trying to broker a humanitarian ceasefire in Syria.

ICRC spokeswoman Carla Haddad said the group is "discussing several possibilities with all those concerned and it includes a cessation of fighting in the most affected areas".

She said that the Geneva-based aid group has been in talks with Syrian authorities and opposition groups for some time but attempts to negotiate a ceasefire were "an important new step".

More than 5,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the 11-month uprising against Syria's President Bashar Assad.

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