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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Paris urges Syrian opposition to stop extremists |
| 2013-01-28 |
| France warned Monday that extremists could prevail in Syria if nations fail to support the opposition coalition and don't deliver promised funds and political support soon. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, addressing envoys from 50 nations that France is trying to coax into action, says that support is needed to ensure the world's credibility in the eyes of those fighting President Bashar Assad's regime. "We have to give the Syrian people a clear signal: we are at your side," Fabius said. The civil war in Syria, which began with an uprising against Assad's regime 22 months ago, has killed over 60,000 people and forced hundreds of thousands to flee the violence, according to the U.N. The meeting in Paris, attended also by three Syrian National Coalition vice presidents, comes two days before a donors conference in Kuwait. Promises of funding and other aid made at a December conference of the Friends of Syria group have failed to materialize. France, which has spearheaded the formation of a viable Syrian opposition-in-exile, wants to make sure that aid which has been already promised comes through. |
| Posted by:tipper |