- Title: Syrian opposition urge Arab League intervention to end conflict
- Date: 10th October 2016
- Summary: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 10, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** NEWS CONFERENCE FOR SYRIAN HIGH NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE (HNC) HEAD AND MEMBERS OF HNC SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HNC SPOKESMAN, SALEM AL-MUSLET, SAYING: "Russia and Iran are considered occupying powers and the presence of their troops on the Syrian land is illegal. All agreements made between them and the regime are a violation of the sovereignty and independence of Syria." PHOTOGRAPHER AT WORK (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HNC SPOKESMAN, SALEM AL-MUSLET, SAYING: "We call on the Arab League for urgent and fast intervention to protect Syria's independence through activation of joint Arab defence agreement." VARIOUS OF REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HNC SPOKESMAN, SALEM AL-MUSLET, SAYING: "The opposition has not received any anti-aircraft weapons, if it had received any, the situation won't be as it's now in Syria." CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS SPEAKERS AND MEDIA LEAVING
- Embargoed: 25th October 2016 15:51
- Keywords: Syria conflict war Russia Arab League HNC
- Location: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- City: RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00153FB6FP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Syrian High Negotiations Committee, a coalition of opposition groups, called on Monday (October 10) on the Arab League to help resolve the country's civil war.
The group's spokesman Salem al-Muslet said the presence of Russian and Iranian troops on their land was "illegal".
Both countries are supporting President Bashar al-Assad against the rebels. Russia's intervention in the conflict last year has helped Assad turn the tide in his favour.
U.S.-led forces also carry out air strikes in Syria, targeting Islamic State militants.
"Russia and Iran are considered occupying powers and the presence of their troops on the Syrian land is illegal. All agreements made between them and the regime are a violation of the sovereignty and independence of Syria," Muslet told a news conference in the Saudi capital.
He called upon the Arab League for "urgent and fast intervention" to protect "Syria's independence".
Aerial bombardments by the Syrian government and its allies in the past two weeks, mainly against rebel-held areas in Aleppo city, have been among the heaviest of the civil war.
The six year conflict has killed more than 300,000 people.
A ceasefire brokered by Washington and Moscow in September collapsed after a week. Since then, Russia has built up its forces in Syria, sending in troops, planes and advanced missile systems, a Reuters analysis of publicly available tracking data shows.
HNC's Muslet said the opposition needs anti-aircraft weapons to retaliate against Assad's forces and allies. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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