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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
UK Says Vienna Talks to Draw Up Syria 'Terrorist' List
2015-11-11
[AnNahar] The world powers trying to end the civil war in Syria are drawing up a list of "terrorist" groups, Britannia said Tuesday, warning that some countries may have to drop support for allies on the ground.

"It will require deep breaths on several sides, including the U.S. side," British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warned, speaking to news hounds in Washington.

Around 20 countries and international bodies will meet on Saturday in Vienna to try to push forward a peace plan for Syria that would include a ceasefire between Bashir al-Assad's regime and some opposition groups.

As part of this, Hammond said, the countries backing various factions within the country would have to decide which are moderate enough to be included in the political process and which would be excluded.

"I'm not so sure I would write off the possibility of agreeing on who is a terrorist," he said, in remarks at the British embassy the morning after talks with U.S. Secretary of State John F. I was in Vietnam, you know Kerry
Former Senator-for-Life from Massachussetts, self-defined war hero, speaker of French, owner of a lucky hat, conqueror of Cambodia, and current Secretary of State...
.

But he warned that there would be horse trading ahead.

"The Saudis are never going to sign up to Ansar al-Sham being categorized as terrorists," he said, citing the example of one Sunni gang reported to receive outside Arab backing.

"So we have to see whether we can reach a pragmatic solution on these areas," Hammond added.

Asked whether Britannia is specifically asking Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
to give up some of the groups it is backing, he said: "Well, we might be, let's explore that."

Russia and Iran, both party to the Vienna negotiations, are supporting Assad against U.S. and Saudi backed rebels, but Hammond denied that the "terrorist list" would give them more leeway to strike the opposition.

"The Russians are already bombing anybody who poses any kind of threat to the regime," he said. "When we talk about terrorist groups what we're tying to do is narrow the Russians' target set."

The U.S., Britannia and their Arab allies want Assad to step down to allow a transitional Syrian government to unite the country behind a reconciliation process and the fight against the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
jihadist group.

Moscow and Tehran believe Assad is the best bulwark against the Islamic State group, and are supporting his forces against both the jihadists and other factions they deem a threat to his rule.
Posted by:trailing wife

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