US official: Ceasefire by weekend is unlikely

"It would not be accurate to say that we expect a ceasefire by the weekend," said a senior US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We are continuing to work on it, but it is not set at this point."

An Egyptian official said on Wednesday that a more limited humanitarian ceasefire may go into effect by the weekend, in time for the Eid al-Fitr festival, Islam's biggest annual celebration that follows the fasting month of Ramadan.

But the United States, whose Secretary of State John Kerry is spearheading the indirect negotiations, was more circumspect.