The reconciliation agreement between Damascus and "Shabab al-Sunna" faction headed by Ahmed al-Awdeh in the city of Busra al-Sham, one of the largest cities in the countryside of Daraa, broke out sharply between the opposition factions and the civilian components of the negotiating delegation with the Russian army.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders are trying to secure guarantees from Moscow that opposition civilians will not be pursued as well as arrangements for a crossing point on the border with Jordan.
On Saturday, a meeting of the Syrian government and a Russian general was held in Busra, Syria, in which the general offered nine verbal conditions to the opposition delegation, which included Awdeh and Bashar al-Zoubi, and Adham Akrad and civilian representatives of the opposition’s delegation.
According to information, Russia’s proposed conditions include surrendering medium and heavy arsenal, as well Assad’s forces admission to the “liberated” areas and tackling the management of al-Naseeb border crossing following the faction’s retreat from it.
The terms also provided for the dissident officers and military service escapees’ enrollment after six month, in addition to the status legalization of prosecuted people, following Assad’s forces entry to all the areas controlled by the factions.
The opposition delegation asked for time to consult with its popular base and allies, especially Washington and Amman. Russian army agreed to stop the shelling while continuing to reach settlements and reconciliations in other areas.
Meanwhile, Zoubi rejected the Russian oral offer saying: "Death with honor or life with dignity." However, Awdeh continued negotiations and reached an agreement in Busra al-Sham with 13 articles.
The agreement included handing over heavy weapons as of Sunday, civilians return to the towns where there is no army, and accompanied by the Russian military police and the Red Crescent, people return to areas where the army is located.
In addition, start handing over medium weapons included in ceasefire, distribute settlement points according to the agreed mechanism and hoisting the Syrian flag as state institutions begin to operate.
The agreement also ensures settling conditions of dissidents and those wanted for compulsory military service. It includes the region from Daraa in the west to the town of Samad in the east, and from Busra al-Harir in the north to the borders of Jordan. Russia is the guarantor of this agreement.
On Monday, government forces and the opposition exchanged bodies as part of the agreement.
The agreement did not include a reference to Naseeb crossing now that Free Syrian Army wants a joint administration and negotiated this under the mechanism of the "de-escalation" agreement with the United States, Jordan and Russia; reached at the end of last year.
The number of villages that agreed to the "settlements" reached 13, however, the debate remained on whether other factions would join the Busra-Sham agreement.
In a statement Monday, the civilian half of the opposition’s delegation to talks said they withdrew.
“We did not attend negotiations today. We were not party to any agreement and we never will be,” said the statement, signed by negotiator Adnan Musalima. It accused some actors of trying to secure personal interests through the agreements.
Some figures opposing the idea accused Awdeh of "treason", but Musalima responded in a voice recording, saying that the survival of the people "better than keeping weapons," pointing out that he was trying to get the best agreement to ensure civilians remain in Daraa.
Southern Syrian agreement differs than deals of Ghouta and the countryside of Homs, given that it did not include the displacement of the opposition and their families to the north of Syria, and stipulated that they stay and fight against Khalid Army of ISIS and other factions.
But many residents were worried a deal struck with Russia would only be violated later on, Daraa activist Omar Hariri told Agence France Presse (AFP).
Since the terms did not include mass population transfers to other opposition-held zones like in previous deals, residents feared the regime would abduct or arrest its opponents in "acts of revenge," he said.
"The situation is tough, and the rebels and all opposition entities in Daraa are facing very difficult choices. The noose is getting tighter and tighter," Hariri added.
Political and military opposition figures are trying to improve the terms of negotiations with Russia. A source indicated that the opposition is trying to obtain strong guarantees from the Russians to prevent the prosecution of several figures and keep light and medium weapons with the fighters.
But another source quoted a Russian officer as saying: "The Syrian army will deploy at Naseeb crossing and the border with Jordan and all weapons must be handed over, otherwise the green buses will wait", referring to the possibility of displacing those who reject the agreement to north of Syria.
