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                   US Labels Syrian Rebel Group as Terrorists

   by VOA News

   The United States has declared a Syrian rebel group as a terrorist
   organization, while Western powers push to rally international support
   for Syria's new opposition coalition.
   The State Department has not formally announced designating Jabhat
   al-Nusra as a terror group, but a government document scheduled to be
   published Tuesday lists it as an alias of al-Qaida in Iraq.
   At a briefing Monday, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said
   the U.S. has had concerns about Jabhat al-Nusra being "little more than
   a front" for the terror group, whose operations had spilled over into
   neighboring Syria.
   Listing an entity as a terror organization bars Americans from doing
   business with the group.
   Jabhat al-Nusra has claimed responsibility for suicide bombings in
   Syria.
   Officials from European Union nations and the United States will gather
   Wednesday in Morocco for a Friends of Syria meeting aimed at supporting
   the rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad.
   U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is not taking part in the
   meeting, after canceling her Middle East trip because of an illness.
   France, Britain and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council have
   recognized the opposition coalition as the representative of the Syrian
   people.  Despite broad support for the ouster of Assad, the United
   States and some European nations have been hesitant to fully recognize
   the coalition.
   British Foreign Secretary William Hague expressed hope Monday that more
   nations will back the coalition, after EU foreign ministers held talks
   with new Syrian opposition leader Mouaz al-Khatib.
   "He [i.e., Syrian National Coalition leader Mouaz al-Khatib] has been
   able to give some very clear assurances about the inclusivity of the
   National Coalition - about the inclusion of Kurdish people, of
   Christian people in Syria, about the determination to represent all the
   people of Syria," said Hague. " Of course, the United Kingdom has
   already recognized them as the sole legitimate representatives of the
   Syrian people.  I hope that him coming here today will encourage other
   European nations to do the same."
   German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle also said al-Khatib's
   coalition deserves more support.
   "It is the right timing to upgrade the political recognition of the
   Syrian National Coalition today. I think it is the best timing," he
   said. " We used the momentum we have at the moment on the ground and we
   think it will be an important measure to promote the process of erosion
   in the regime of Assad."
   While Germany and Britain expressed optimism going forward, EU foreign
   affairs chief Catherine Ashton cautioned Syria needs a political
   solution to the violence between the Syrian government and opponents
   bent on overthrowing it.
   "It's important that there has to be a political process alongside
   everything else, you know you have to get from here to the position
   where you have an inclusive, chosen government in Syria that the people
   can all feel proud of.  And that's really important so you do need a
   political process," she said.
   Russia is not taking part in the talks Wednesday.  Moscow objects to
   any outside interference in a Syrian transition process, saying any
   decisions about political reforms should be made by Syrians themselves.
   Fighting between rebels and government forces has already claimed more
   than 40,000 lives, with no let-up in sight.
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   rists/1562475.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-labels-syrian-rebel-group-as-terrorists/1562475.html