Muallem Warns of Reprisals for Recognition of Syrian Opposition

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Syria will retaliate against any country that recognizes the opposition National Council, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said on Sunday.

"We will take significant measures against any country that recognizes this illegitimate council," Muallem told a news conference, as the newly formed opposition group lobbied for support in Cairo.

Damascus is a proponent of national dialogue and all opposition groups "are invited to participate for the future of Syria,” he said.

Formed in Istanbul at the end of August, the Syrian National Council unites all the major known factions opposing President Bashar Assad's rule, both inside and outside Syria.

It includes the Local Coordination Committees, an activist network spurring protests in Syria, the long-banned Muslim Brotherhood as well as Kurdish and Assyrian groups.

The United Nations estimates that a total of more than 2,900 people have been killed since Syria launched its brutal crackdown on dissent in mid-March.

But Damascus plays down the scope of the opposition movement and blames "terrorists" and "armed gangs" for the country's violence.

Comments 10
Default-user-icon Voyager (Guest) over 12 years

Is this idiot for real?

Default-user-icon Habib Tabrizian (Guest) over 12 years

The Green movement in Iran has in a statement expressed it,s support and solidarity with SNC. the people of Iran consider the Syrian,s campaign for freedom and democracy as his own. all of us are in the same boat! We Will Win!

Thumb Marc over 12 years

Talk about arrogance!

Default-user-icon hanna (Guest) over 12 years

omg, is he serious, he actually think they are that important... Well well ya mouallim, maybe you should have taalamit from saddam and maamar....

Thumb joesikemrex over 12 years

Keep Lebanon out

Default-user-icon pissed off (Guest) over 12 years

However you slice it, the fact remains that the Assad tribe has a solid grip on the region. So far he is playing his cards right, strong on the inside and in the buffer zone btw him and Israel.If he goes down, no doubt about it, he will take the region down with him. Just think about it, his goons in Lebanon are just waiting for the sign, payback time for the support Assad has been providing them with.Lebanon as a whole is a sitting duck. The US is getting into election, no one will make the move so not to loose votes. The Sarkozy govt is trying to take over the world Decision maker over the US but is failing so far. in a nutshell, Lebanese (if we can still call ourselves Lebanese) will be left to fend for themselves and eventually (as history repeat itself) end up with the short end of the stick.

Thumb benzona over 12 years

Vive la démocratie, vive l'opposition syrienne, vive la liberté.

Default-user-icon The Crucifier (Guest) over 12 years

Retaliate with what? You can only retaliate against the helpless free Lebanese but you are helpless against every single nation in this region and they are working on using any measure to remove you from the scene in Syria and make you pay dearly for all the atrocities you and your gang have committed... You will follow Saddam and his gang to the gallows and we will all sheer that day... You are history moron... And so are your hired help and taritors in lebanon....

Default-user-icon Wake Up Orange (Guest) over 12 years

It's the beginning of the end

Default-user-icon TITUS (Guest) over 12 years

Arrogance and/or denial were never and will never be substitutes to intelligence and compassionate wisdom... This regime thug is obviously very nervous as he should be, since his myopic criminal regime has started to finally see the writings on the wall as they have become unmistakably large and prominent as this regime is heading for a head on collision with it.