Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat – Deputy Chief of Staff of the opposition Free Syrian
Army [FSA], Colonel Aref Hamoud, condemned the attack and storming of the US
embassies in Libya and Egypt. Speaking exclusively to Asharq Al-Awsat, Hamoud
said “we are against such acts which insult the people’s revolutions and Arab
Spring.”
As for whether he fears the rise of Al Qaeda in Syria, the FSA Deputy Chief
of Staff asserted that “anything is possible after the Syrian arena has become
open due to the lack of action of the international community with regards to
all the massacres that are being committed by the regime.” He added “there can
be no doubt that it has become a fertile ground for various groups, including
extremist Salafist groups.” Hamoud stressed that “so far, these groups are a
minority and are not of the same level as the Al Qaeda organization, however if
the international community continue to ignore the Syrian people’s cause, there
can be no doubt that such groups will appear and spread [across Syria].”
He also said that the Syrian people’s belief that the international community
has forgotten about them will push them towards religion, and therefore to
groups that raise the banner of religion. Colonel Hamoud called on the
international community to officially recognize the FSA and fund it to allow it
to be the sole body authorized to carry weapons in Syria.
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=31059
For his part, Syrian National Council member Samir Satouf confirmed that Al
Qaeda is present on the ground in Syria, although under a variety of different
names. He informed Asharq Al-Awsat that Bashar al-Assad had been funding these
Al Qaeda affiliates – with the knowledge of the West – since before the
revolution...
http://www.asharq-e.com/news.asp?section=1&id=31059