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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syria attacks Saudi over arming opposition calls |
| 2012-02-26 |
| DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria lashed out at Saudi Arabia on Saturday, a day after the kingdom’s foreign minister backed the idea of arming the rebels fighting President Bashar Assad’s regime, accusing Riyadh of becoming ‘a partner’ in the bloodshed in Syria. The sharp riposte from Damascus, which was published in a state-run newspaper, came as activists said at least 68 people were killed across the country and regime forces pounded rebel-held neighborhoods in the central city of Homs. Syria’s traditionally cold relations with Saudi Arabia have plunged into a deep freeze since the 11-month-old uprising against Assad began. The Sunni power in the region, Saudi Arabia has been a harshly critical of the Assad regime, which is controlled by the minority Alawite sect, and its brutal crackdown against the mostly Sunni opposition. A Saturday commentary in the state-run Al Thawra daily sharply criticised Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al Faisal, who said during Friday’s 60-nation gathering in Tunisia that he supported giving weapons and ammunition to groups fighting the Syrian regime. ‘I think it’s an excellent idea,’ Prince Saud told reporters in Tunisia. Asked why, he replied: ‘Because they have to defend themselves.’ Al Thawra said that the prince, by ‘rudely’ supporting an armed opposition, has become a ‘direct partner in shedding more Syrian blood.’ ‘It’s shameful for the vocabulary of the Saudi speech to reach this level ... and to announce so rudely support for terrorists,’ Al Thawra said. The paper reflects the Syrian government’s point of view. In August, Saudi King Abdullah issued a harsh statement against Assad’s crackdown and recalled the kingdom’s ambassador to Damascus in protest. Since then, the ambassador has not returned and Saudi officials have been campaigning against Assad’s regime worldwide. |
| Posted by:Steve White |