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| Syria conflict: Rebel reinforcements arrive in Qusair | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dozens of fighters have arrived to reinforce rebel units battling to hold off a Syrian government and Hezbollah assault on the key town of Qusair. | Dozens of fighters have arrived to reinforce rebel units battling to hold off a Syrian government and Hezbollah assault on the key town of Qusair. |
| A source in Qusair told the BBC the number was far fewer than the 1,000 suggested by the interim head of the main opposition alliance, George Sabra. | A source in Qusair told the BBC the number was far fewer than the 1,000 suggested by the interim head of the main opposition alliance, George Sabra. |
| But the arrival does contradict state media reports the town is surrounded. | But the arrival does contradict state media reports the town is surrounded. |
| President Bashar al-Assad earlier told Lebanese TV that he was "confident of victory" in the two-year-old conflict. | President Bashar al-Assad earlier told Lebanese TV that he was "confident of victory" in the two-year-old conflict. |
| His troops, backed by fighters from Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement, have been tightening the noose on Qusair, which controls supply routes crucial to both sides. | His troops, backed by fighters from Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement, have been tightening the noose on Qusair, which controls supply routes crucial to both sides. |
| Syrian state television said troops and Hezbollah fighters had captured the Arjun district of Qusair on Thursday. | Syrian state television said troops and Hezbollah fighters had captured the Arjun district of Qusair on Thursday. |
| The BBC source in Qusair did not give precise figures for the rebel reinforcements for security reasons. | The BBC source in Qusair did not give precise figures for the rebel reinforcements for security reasons. |
| But he said it was significant that they had managed to get in at all, and that the news would encourage others to come to the aid of the rebels. | But he said it was significant that they had managed to get in at all, and that the news would encourage others to come to the aid of the rebels. |
| He also said the humanitarian situation in Qusair was worsening, with urgent need to get some 800 wounded people out for treatment. | He also said the humanitarian situation in Qusair was worsening, with urgent need to get some 800 wounded people out for treatment. |
| An attempt to evacuate wounded on Friday had failed, he added, as the convoy had come under attack, with nine people killed. | |
| The source said that 80% of Qusair was still under rebel control, although this cannot be independently verified. | |
| He told the BBC: "There are about 30,000 people in Qusair. The ones that are inside are stuck here, and most of them live underground... Sometimes there are two or three families living in one room. | |
| "There is no water at all, because the Assad regime controls the water supply, and there has been no electricity for four months." | |
| Mr Sabra, acting leader of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, insisted that "around 1,000 fighters from across Syria" had penetrated the town. | Mr Sabra, acting leader of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, insisted that "around 1,000 fighters from across Syria" had penetrated the town. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group, said "hundreds" of rebels had broken through army lines north-east of Qusair. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group, said "hundreds" of rebels had broken through army lines north-east of Qusair. |
| Russian supplies | Russian supplies |
| Earlier, the National Coalition ended marathon talks in Istanbul with a pledge to broaden its membership. | Earlier, the National Coalition ended marathon talks in Istanbul with a pledge to broaden its membership. |
| It will include more representatives of the rebel Free Syrian Army and other activists inside Syria, but correspondents say it failed to achieve many stated goals. | It will include more representatives of the rebel Free Syrian Army and other activists inside Syria, but correspondents say it failed to achieve many stated goals. |
| The coalition announced that its leadership council would be expanded, following widespread criticism that it was out of touch with events on the ground in Syria. | The coalition announced that its leadership council would be expanded, following widespread criticism that it was out of touch with events on the ground in Syria. |
| It adds 14 members of a liberal bloc led by Michel Kilo, 14 members of activists' groups from inside Syria and 15 members linked to the FSA. | It adds 14 members of a liberal bloc led by Michel Kilo, 14 members of activists' groups from inside Syria and 15 members linked to the FSA. |
| However, the coalition postponed until June the election of a new leader to replace Moaz al-Khatib, who said in March he would resign, and the formation of an interim rebel government headed by Ghassan Hitto. | |
| Before the announcement, the US had called for a decision on a new leadership and an expanded membership to "move forward in planning the Geneva conference". | Before the announcement, the US had called for a decision on a new leadership and an expanded membership to "move forward in planning the Geneva conference". |
| The US and Russia are pushing for a meeting to find a political solution to the conflict in the Swiss city next month, and their officials will meet next week to prepare the ground. | The US and Russia are pushing for a meeting to find a political solution to the conflict in the Swiss city next month, and their officials will meet next week to prepare the ground. |
| Mr Sabra insisted: "The Syrian Coalition will not participate in international conferences and will not support any efforts in light of Hezbollah and Iran's militia's invasion of Syria." | Mr Sabra insisted: "The Syrian Coalition will not participate in international conferences and will not support any efforts in light of Hezbollah and Iran's militia's invasion of Syria." |
| However, given the fractured nature of the opposition it is unclear whether this is the final word. | However, given the fractured nature of the opposition it is unclear whether this is the final word. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says a lot more needs to be done for the opposition to be in any kind of shape to attend any conference in a coherent manner. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says a lot more needs to be done for the opposition to be in any kind of shape to attend any conference in a coherent manner. |
| He says that, by contrast, the Syrian government appears unified and confident. | He says that, by contrast, the Syrian government appears unified and confident. |
| President Assad, speaking on Thursday to Lebanon's al-Manar TV, which is owned by Hezbollah, said: "There is a world war being waged against Syria and the policy of [anti-Israeli] resistance but we are very confident of victory." | President Assad, speaking on Thursday to Lebanon's al-Manar TV, which is owned by Hezbollah, said: "There is a world war being waged against Syria and the policy of [anti-Israeli] resistance but we are very confident of victory." |
| He warned Israel that it would respond in kind to any future air strikes. | He warned Israel that it would respond in kind to any future air strikes. |
| "We have informed all the parties who have contacted us that we will respond to any Israeli aggression next time." | "We have informed all the parties who have contacted us that we will respond to any Israeli aggression next time." |
| Mr Assad said Syria would "in principle" attend the peace conference in Geneva if there were not unacceptable preconditions. | Mr Assad said Syria would "in principle" attend the peace conference in Geneva if there were not unacceptable preconditions. |
| Mr Assad also said a Russian contract to supply it with new S-300 air defence missile systems was being implemented - but did not confirm any deliveries. | Mr Assad also said a Russian contract to supply it with new S-300 air defence missile systems was being implemented - but did not confirm any deliveries. |
| He said: "All we have agreed on with Russia will be implemented and some of it has been implemented recently, and we and the Russians continue to implement these contracts." | He said: "All we have agreed on with Russia will be implemented and some of it has been implemented recently, and we and the Russians continue to implement these contracts." |
| The S-300 is a highly capable surface-to-air missile system that, as well as targeting aircraft, also has the capacity to engage ballistic missiles. | The S-300 is a highly capable surface-to-air missile system that, as well as targeting aircraft, also has the capacity to engage ballistic missiles. |
| Two Russian newspapers on Friday quoted defence sources as saying that it was unclear if any of the missile system would be delivered this year. | Two Russian newspapers on Friday quoted defence sources as saying that it was unclear if any of the missile system would be delivered this year. |
| Russia's MiG company said it was also discussing the supply of more MiG-29 M/M2 fighter planes to Syria. General director Sergei Korotkov said the number would be "more than 10". | Russia's MiG company said it was also discussing the supply of more MiG-29 M/M2 fighter planes to Syria. General director Sergei Korotkov said the number would be "more than 10". |
| Meanwhile, Syrian state TV showed the bodies and identity cards of two Westerners it said were killed by government troops while fighting for the rebels in the north-western province of Idlib. | Meanwhile, Syrian state TV showed the bodies and identity cards of two Westerners it said were killed by government troops while fighting for the rebels in the north-western province of Idlib. |
| The family of an American woman later reported her death, naming her as Nicole Mansfield, a 33-year-old Muslim convert from the town of Flint, Michigan. | The family of an American woman later reported her death, naming her as Nicole Mansfield, a 33-year-old Muslim convert from the town of Flint, Michigan. |
| The UK Foreign Office said on Friday that it was aware of reports about a British citizen and was seeking further information. | The UK Foreign Office said on Friday that it was aware of reports about a British citizen and was seeking further information. |