23/04/2014 19:16
Syrian opposition asks for more Saudi aid
The head of Syria's main opposition group has asked Saudi Arabia to increase its support for the rebel Free Syrian Army, his advisor said Wednesday, The Daily Star reported.
Ahmed Jarba, head of the opposition National Coalition, met with Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on Tuesday.
"The talks focused on continuing the Saudi aid and on the need to strengthen the capacities of the Free Syrian Army (FSA)," Jarba's advisor Monser Akbik told AFP.
More aid is needed "to face the increasing number of mercenaries and militias belonging to (Lebanese movement) Hezbollah and Iraqis" fighting alongside the Syrian regime, he said.
The FSA is also "battling extremists from the (jihadist) Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS), who serve the regime's interests," said Akbik.
Jarba told Prince Salman during their meeting that the government's announcement of a June 3 presidential election, widely expected to return Assad to office, has "closed the door to any political solution," according to a statement by the Coalition.