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EU backs Syrian opposition, ponders new sanctions
[Emirates 24/7] The European Union...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... is reaching out to the nascent Syrian opposition movement to see if it could play an instrumental role in ousting  President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad Sonny, disguised as Fredo, trying to be Mike... , whose crackdown on pro-democracy protesters has so far killed nearly 3,000 people. Diplomats said Syria's opposition needs more work to become an effective political force and gain formal recognition as a legal representative of the Syrian people. Still, some drew comparisons to European backing of Libya's National Transitional Council, the rebel-led group that overthrew strongman Muammar Qadaffy ...Custodian of Wheelus AFB for 42 long years... "I believe we have to get to know them better and get to know their intentions," French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said of the Syrians after the 27 EU foreign ministers met in Luxembourg and discussed the worsening situation in the Arab nation. Earlier in the day, Syrian opposition members, including representatives of the newly formed Syrian National Council, said they had agreed on a democratic framework for a future nation and that they want international observers to be allowed into the Arab state to examine the situation there. Ghied Al Hashmy, a political scientist who participated in a conference in Sweden of Syrian opposition members, including council representatives, said they oppose military intervention but want more political pressure on Syria, such as the targeted economic sanctions the EU has been applying. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the bloc is planning to expand action against Syria. A third round of measures will be necessary, she said, especially after Assad's "disappointing" speech over the weekend in which he criticized alleged foreign intervention in the country. An official said last week that Syria's largest commercial bank will be targeted in any new sanctions. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. The uprising against Assad began in mid-March amid a wave of anti-government protests in the Arab world that toppled autocrats in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Assad has reacted with deadly force that the U.N. estimates has left some 2,900 people dead. The Syrian National Council is a broad-based group which includes most major opposition factions. Posted by: Fred 2011-10-12 |
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