This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21834632
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Syria opposition meeting discusses appointing rival PM | Syria opposition meeting discusses appointing rival PM |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Syria's opposition National Coalition is meeting in Istanbul to discuss the appointment of a rival prime minister for rebel-held parts of the country. | |
| An alternative government could then be formed to oversee the provision of services in opposition held-areas. | An alternative government could then be formed to oversee the provision of services in opposition held-areas. |
| The commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA), which is part of the coalition, said he supported the move. | |
| Meanwhile, the US and France condemned a Syrian airstrike on the Lebanese border as a "violation of sovereignty". | |
| Reports from Lebanon say Syrian aircraft fired four rockets at the border between the two countries, near the Lebanese town of Arsal. | |
| There were no casualties from the raid. Lebanese officials had earlier said it was not clear whether the rockets had landed inside Lebanese territory. | There were no casualties from the raid. Lebanese officials had earlier said it was not clear whether the rockets had landed inside Lebanese territory. |
| The US described the attack as a "significant escalation" of the conflict. | |
| "These kinds of violations of sovereignty are absolutely unacceptable," US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. | "These kinds of violations of sovereignty are absolutely unacceptable," US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. |
| France said the raid constituted "a new and serious violation of Lebanon's sovereignty". | |
| 'Proceed cautiously' | |
| At Monday's meeting in Turkey, FSA chief of staff Gen Selim Idriss said his group would work "under the umbrella" of any new government. | |
| Large swathes of northern Syria have been seized by rebels from government control in recent months. | Large swathes of northern Syria have been seized by rebels from government control in recent months. |
| However, reports from those areas say that basic supplies such as electricity and water are limited. | However, reports from those areas say that basic supplies such as electricity and water are limited. |
| Rebel-held areas are currently administered by a patchwork of local councils and armed groups who have been running some institutions, such as courts and prisons. | Rebel-held areas are currently administered by a patchwork of local councils and armed groups who have been running some institutions, such as courts and prisons. |
| "We demand an interim government for all Syrian territory, one that would be the only legitimate government in the country," Gen Idriss told AFP news agency. | |
| "Any institutions not following this government would be considered to be acting illegitimately and would be prosecuted." | "Any institutions not following this government would be considered to be acting illegitimately and would be prosecuted." |
| Also on Monday, the US said it would not stand in the way of other countries arming Syrian rebels. | Also on Monday, the US said it would not stand in the way of other countries arming Syrian rebels. |
| Last week France and the UK said they supported lifting the EU arms embargo on Syria to allow weapons to reach anti-government forces, citing guarantees from rebels that arms would not fall into the wrong hands. | Last week France and the UK said they supported lifting the EU arms embargo on Syria to allow weapons to reach anti-government forces, citing guarantees from rebels that arms would not fall into the wrong hands. |
| However, other EU countries have expressed scepticism over any such move. The embargo is expected to be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers later this week and a vote is due in May. | However, other EU countries have expressed scepticism over any such move. The embargo is expected to be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers later this week and a vote is due in May. |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters on Monday: "The United States does not stand in the way of other countries that made a decision to provide arms, whether it's France, or Britain or others." | US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters on Monday: "The United States does not stand in the way of other countries that made a decision to provide arms, whether it's France, or Britain or others." |
| But top US military commander Gen Martin Dempsey warned against acting too quickly. | |
| "I don't think at this point I can see a military option that would create an understandable outcome. And until I do, it would be my advice to proceed cautiously," he told the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank. | |
| Last week saw the second anniversary of the Syrian uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, which initially began as a wave of peaceful protests but which is now often described as a civil war. | Last week saw the second anniversary of the Syrian uprising against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, which initially began as a wave of peaceful protests but which is now often described as a civil war. |
| An estimated 70,000 people have been killed and more than one million people have fled Syria since the uprising began. |