UK to Start Direct Talks with Syria Rebels

Local Editor

Britain is to begin talks with armed opposition groups in Syria as it seeks to help end the violence, Prime Minister David Cameron's office said Wednesday.

The government has authorized officials to have contacts with military representatives of the groups, Downing Street said.

Media reports suggested Britain's envoy to the Syrian opposition, John Wilkes, would arrange meetings in third countries to initiate talks with the rebels.

This comes as the British Prime Minister David Cameron continues his visit in the region. Meanwhile, news agencies reported that Cameron as well as other senior UK officials are due to meet the leaders of rebel groups to discuss aids.
Cameron arrived in Jordan on Wednesday on the latest stage of his visit to the Middle East.

"We must ask ourselves what more can we do: how can we help the opposition? How can we put the pressure on Assad? How can we work with partners in the region to turn this around?" Cameron said.
A British Spokesman claimed officials of the country aim to better understand the "actual situation in Syria" and the relationship between Syrian government and these groups.

Britain is among the countries supplying financial backups to the armed rebes. It has given over £50 million to the rebels, a second country after the US.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org