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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syrian coalition opposes US decision on Nusra |
| 2012-12-13 |
| Syria’s opposition leader, Moaz al-Khatib, called on the US on Wednesday to reconsider its decision to designate an extremist rebel group as a terrorist organisation, as more than 100 countries meeting in Morocco recognised his coalition as the legitimate representative of Syrians. The Syrian National Coalition, the newly formed group that has sought to unite rebel forces, received a significant diplomatic boost at the Friends of Syria conference in Marrakesh, increasing the isolation of the regime of Bashar al-Assad and its supporters in Russia and China. Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, said: “Today we are saying there is an alternative [to the regime].” Speaking in Marrakesh, Mr al-Khatib, head of the SNC, welcomed Washington’s recognition of his group but acknowledged the opposition’s differences with the Obama administration, particularly over the blacklisting of Jabhat al-Nusra, the extremist group, as an affiliate of al-Qaeda. The moderate preacher, chosen as president of the SNC last month, expressed his rejection of extremist ideology but said the fact that religion motivated Syrians to fight against oppression was nothing to be ashamed of. His attempt to distance the coalition from the US, while at the same time seeking American support, underlined the opposition’s difficulties in satisfying its increasingly Islamist and radicalised domestic audience as well as its western partners. His words appeared aimed at Syrian rebel groups, many of whom were infuriated by the US move against al-Nusra and the perception that Washington has done little to help them in their cause. Opposition officials say that groups such as al-Nusra, which include foreign jihadis, were welcomed into rebel ranks because of their military expertise and sources of funding, and at a time when appeals for foreign military intervention were ignored. The Friends of Syria meeting brought together many western and Arab delegations opposed to the Assad regime in an unprecedented show of political support for the opposition. The SNC formed a military council last week in an attempt to unite most of the rebel factions on the ground. The final communiqué said the countries present, which included western and Arab states but not Russia and China, recognised the coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people and warned that the use of chemical or biological weapons would draw a serious response from the international community. Participants also recognised the “legitimate need for the Syrian people to defend themselves against the violent and brutal campaign of the Assad regime”. |
| Posted by:tipper |