Peace Envoy Arrives in Damascus

International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi arrived in Damascus Friday for talks with Syrian officials on securing a temporary cease-fire in the 19-month-old conflict.

The U.N.-Arab League envoy is expected to meet the Syrian Foreign Minister on Saturday morning, but it is still not clear whether Brahimi will meet with President Bashar al-Assad. The peace envoy is pushing for Syrian officials to support a cease-fire during the four-day Muslim holiday of Eid, beginning October 26. He told reporters after meeting Jordan's foreign minister that a respite in hostilities could build confidence and help bring about a longer truce in the 19-month-old conflict.

Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, has also appealed to Syrian forces and rebel groups to observe the cease-fire.

A rebel group calling itself the Joint Command for Military and Revolution Councils said in a video statement that it was willing to respect the ceasefire on condition that the Assad government released detainees, particularly women, and lifted the siege of the central city of Homs.

Listen to the full report by regional correspondent Nathan Morley: