Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pledged Tuesday to do his part to ensure a fragile ceasefire holds and offered a "return to civilian life" for rebels who hand in their weapons.

"We will do our part so that the whole thing works," he told German public broadcaster ARD in an interview, referring to a three-day-old truce drawn up by Russia and the United States.

The president also offered "a return to civilian life" for opposition fighters if they agree to disarm, according to a German translation of his comments.