SYRIA’S armed forces called a four-day ceasefire in three south-western provinces yesterday ahead of peace talks in Kazakhstan.

The general command declared the truce in Quneitra, Daraa and Sweida provinces, bordering Jordan, from midnight on Sunday to midnight on Thursday “in order to support the peace process and the national reconciliations.”

But the army warned: “We will respond appropriately” to ceasefire violations.

The latest round of peace talks mediated by Russia, Iran and Turkey in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana are set to begin today after several postponements.

A recent two-day ceasefire in Daraa city on the Jordanian border intended to aid negotiation of an amnesty deal for insurgents returned to hostilities after the militants declined an offer to extend it.

On Sunday the army retook the final positions west of Madinat al-Baath lost in last week’s offensive by al-Qaida affilate Hetesh, which was supported by Israeli air strikes launched on the pretext of “errant mortar fire” landing on the neighbouring occupied Golan Heights.

Troops reported capturing Israeli-made weapons and medical kits from the defeated extremists.

Yesterday Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad challenged the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) report that sarin gas had been used against the Hetesh stronghold of Khan Sheikhoun on April 4. At least 87 people, including many children, were killed in the attack, which the United States said was carried out by government forces.

Mr Mekdad said the OPCW had refused offers to visit the attack site or the airfield it was allegedly launched from.

“Why would the Syrian government undertake such stupid measures?” he asked, saying it was already winning the war.

The OPCW itself confirmed the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile on January 4 2015 in line with the September 2013 UN security council resolution 2118.