Aid delays threaten shaky Syrian cease-fire

Although the shelling in Syria has mostly stopped, accusations of cease-fire violations continue to fly. Russian officials said today the United States has refused to rein in the rebel groups it supports, while the United Nations blames the Russian-backed Syrian government for blocking aid convoys headed for rebel-held areas. The cease-fire went into effect Monday, and Russian and U.S. officials agreed yesterday to a 48-hour extension. Each side claims the other has violated the agreement with skirmishes. UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura warned aid delays could spark renewed, widespread violence. “We cannot let days of this reduction of violence be wasted by not moving forward,” he told reporters in Geneva.