Britain welcomes Syrian opposition coalition
- 12 years ago
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague meets with the new Syrian opposition coalition on Friday.
The fledgling Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces hopes to boost their chances of securing international recognition and weapons.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UK FOREIGN SECRETARY, WILLIAM HAGUE, SAYING:
"I'm further encouraged by the discussions that I've had with them this morning. It is important of course and I have stressed to them, that they respect minority rights, that they are inclusive of all communities in Syria, committed to a democratic future for the people of Syria."
On Tuesday France became the first European power to recognise the new Syrian coalition, led by moderate Sunni Muslim cleric Mouaz Alkhatib.
But Hague said he wanted the group to address his concerns before formal recognition.
Back in Syria, amateur video shows the aftermath of fierce fighting in the border town of Ras al-Ain.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's air force has been bombing the town for days, trying to dislodge anti-Assad rebels who overran the town last week.
The assault has brought the war perilously close once again to Turkish soil, testing a promise by Ankara to defend its border.
The fledgling Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces hopes to boost their chances of securing international recognition and weapons.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) UK FOREIGN SECRETARY, WILLIAM HAGUE, SAYING:
"I'm further encouraged by the discussions that I've had with them this morning. It is important of course and I have stressed to them, that they respect minority rights, that they are inclusive of all communities in Syria, committed to a democratic future for the people of Syria."
On Tuesday France became the first European power to recognise the new Syrian coalition, led by moderate Sunni Muslim cleric Mouaz Alkhatib.
But Hague said he wanted the group to address his concerns before formal recognition.
Back in Syria, amateur video shows the aftermath of fierce fighting in the border town of Ras al-Ain.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's air force has been bombing the town for days, trying to dislodge anti-Assad rebels who overran the town last week.
The assault has brought the war perilously close once again to Turkish soil, testing a promise by Ankara to defend its border.