SYRIA’S foreign minister stressed yesterday that no UN or other international troops would occupy his country under the latest ceasefire deal.

Speaking to reporters in Damascus, Walid al-Moallem reiterated his government’s support for the “de-escalation zones” plan agreed at the fourth round of talks in the Kazakh capital Astana last week.

Syria’s allies Russia and Iran and insurgent backer Turkey, which negotiated the accord, will act as guarantors.

Following weekend rumours that Turkish troops would occupy the insurgent-held north-western Idlib province, Mr Moallem insisted the guarantors would only provide military police to monitor the truce — which would exclude Isis and al-Qaida-affiliated factions.

“The guarantors should help the factions which signed the cessation of hostilities agreement and desire to drive away the Nusra Front from their areas,” he said.

The minister said Syria backed the plan in the hope of “stopping the bloodshed” and that the opposition groups present at Astana should change their tune and join the truce.

“But if any violation takes place, the Syrian army will be prepared to respond in a decisive manner,” he warned.

Addressing the opposition’s claim that the plan would lead to the partition of the country, Mr Moallem reaffirmed the government’s commitment to “unity of Syria and its policies.”

Mr Moallem also hailed the latest victory after Hetesh insurgents agreed to evacuate three of the capital’s suburbs after months of fierce fighting.

“Today, a reconciliation started in Barzeh and alQaboun and talks are under way in order to evacuate al-Yarmouk camp from gunmen,” he said.

Some 1,500 militants and their families boarded buses from Barzeh to Idlib yesterday, with more to follow in coming days. Others will remain under the government’s amnesty offer.

Meanwhile, the army continued its offensive along the Damascus-Baghdad road toward the Iraqi border, capturing more territory from Western-backed Free Syrian Army factions.

US Defence Secretary James Mattis, in Copenhagen for a summit of the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve coalition against Isis, said Washington would “look at the [de-escalation ] proposal, see if it can work.”

On Friday, Russian negotiator Alexander Lavrentyev said coalition aircraft would be excluded from the zones.