BEIRUT – Syria promised to comply with a U.N.-brokered cease-fire beginning today but carved out an important condition – that the regime still has a right to defend itself against the terrorists that it says are behind the country’s year-old uprising.

The statement Wednesday offered a glimmer of hope that a peace initiative by special envoy Kofi Annan could help calm the conflict, which has killed some 9,000 people. But the regime still has ample room to maneuver.

In comments carried on the state-run news agency, Syria said the army has successfully fought off “armed terrorist groups” and reasserted state authority across the country.