The Syrian army has suspended combat operations in southern Syria until Thursday to help a new round of peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana. <br/><br/>The army general command said in a statement carried on State television the ceasefire began yesterday and was to support reconciliation efforts, in the second such unilateral ceasefire in the last two weeks.' <br/><br/>A rebel official said the latest ceasefire was a ploy to drag the opposition to Astana. Russian-sponsored talks are planned in Astana today.