Government forces, Druze fighters reach ceasefire after sectarian violence

A ceasefire was reached on Thursday after clashes between government security forces and its allied groups with Druze minority fighters erupted south of the Syrian capital of Damascus, most of them Alawites. The fighting, which started after an audio recording attributed to a Druze citizen which was deemed blasphemous was circulated, prolongs months of sectarian violence which has killed thousands and spread fears about the new Sunni Islamist leadership.