25-09-2012, 12:15 AM
Since this thread is supposed to be about the current battle for Syria can we keep it on topic and post the Libyan events in their proper thread? Thanks BK
Syrian rebel force announces shift of its headquarters from Turkeyto Syria
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-rebel-force-announces-shift-of-its-headquarters-from-turkey-to-syria/2012/09/22/fab6112e-04ef-11e2-9132-f2750cd65f97_story.html
By WilliamBooth, Saturday, September 22, 5:17 PM
CAIRO Commanders of the rebel Free Syrian Army saidSaturday that they have moved their headquarters from Turkey to an unidentifiedlocation in Syria in an effort to unite and coordinate the armed insurrectionagainst President Bashar al-Assad's government.
Col. Riad al-Assad, a leader of the force, announced themove in a video posted on YouTubetitled "Free Syrian Army Communique No. 1 From Inside." The colonel was flankedas he spoke by other rebel leaders in camouflage uniforms.
A look at the Syrian uprising one year later. Thousands ofSyrians have died and President Bashar al-Assad remains in power, despitenumerous calls by the international community for him to step down.
Syrian rebel forces now have at least nominal control of alarge crescent of territory along Syria'snorthern border with Turkeywhere they could operate a base and no longer have to officers shuttle back andforth across the border.
Some rebel fighters battling government forces inside Syriahave complained that the leadership of the Free Syria Army should be besidethem, rather than based in Turkey.
"This could be a key development, giving the FSA the chanceto become the Syrian opposition to Assad instead of running the risk of turninginto Turkey'sopposition to Assad,' " said Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute forNear East Policy.
Turkey'sprime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has thrown his supportbehind the Syrian rebels, but Turkish opposition parties and some ordinaryTurks have expressed fear that their country could be dragged into a sectarianwar.
Members of a minority group in Turkey,the Shiite Alawite sect, have demonstrated in support of President Assad, alsoan Alawite. They have branded the Syrian rebels "terrorists" and called for theouster not only of Syrian rebel fighters, but of the 120,000Syrian refugees who Turkish officials estimate are living in Turkey incamps and rented apartments.
The government in Ankarahas tightenedthe border crossing and earlier this month announced a new policy ofmoving Syrian refugees away from the border area.
"To our free Syrian people, the heroic and proud, and to thesons of the revolution in all the cities of Syriaand its villages and homes, and to all factions of the armed revolution, to allof you, we announce the news that the FSA command is moved to the liberatedareas," Col. Assad said in the video.
The commander complained of a lack of support and materieland "international marginalization" but vowed: "We do not accept compromisewith anyone, until we liberate Damascusfrom the this criminal gang."
The relocation of the military headquarters was carried outa week ago, Brig. Gen. Mustafa al-Sheikh, head of the FSA military council,told the Associated Press.
"There are liberated areas now, and it's better for thecommand to be with the rebels instead of being abroad," Sheikh said.
Syrian rebel force announces shift of its headquarters from Turkeyto Syria
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-rebel-force-announces-shift-of-its-headquarters-from-turkey-to-syria/2012/09/22/fab6112e-04ef-11e2-9132-f2750cd65f97_story.html
By WilliamBooth, Saturday, September 22, 5:17 PM
CAIRO Commanders of the rebel Free Syrian Army saidSaturday that they have moved their headquarters from Turkey to an unidentifiedlocation in Syria in an effort to unite and coordinate the armed insurrectionagainst President Bashar al-Assad's government.
Col. Riad al-Assad, a leader of the force, announced themove in a video posted on YouTubetitled "Free Syrian Army Communique No. 1 From Inside." The colonel was flankedas he spoke by other rebel leaders in camouflage uniforms.
A look at the Syrian uprising one year later. Thousands ofSyrians have died and President Bashar al-Assad remains in power, despitenumerous calls by the international community for him to step down.
Syrian rebel forces now have at least nominal control of alarge crescent of territory along Syria'snorthern border with Turkeywhere they could operate a base and no longer have to officers shuttle back andforth across the border.
Some rebel fighters battling government forces inside Syriahave complained that the leadership of the Free Syria Army should be besidethem, rather than based in Turkey.
"This could be a key development, giving the FSA the chanceto become the Syrian opposition to Assad instead of running the risk of turninginto Turkey'sopposition to Assad,' " said Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute forNear East Policy.
Turkey'sprime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has thrown his supportbehind the Syrian rebels, but Turkish opposition parties and some ordinaryTurks have expressed fear that their country could be dragged into a sectarianwar.
Members of a minority group in Turkey,the Shiite Alawite sect, have demonstrated in support of President Assad, alsoan Alawite. They have branded the Syrian rebels "terrorists" and called for theouster not only of Syrian rebel fighters, but of the 120,000Syrian refugees who Turkish officials estimate are living in Turkey incamps and rented apartments.
The government in Ankarahas tightenedthe border crossing and earlier this month announced a new policy ofmoving Syrian refugees away from the border area.
"To our free Syrian people, the heroic and proud, and to thesons of the revolution in all the cities of Syriaand its villages and homes, and to all factions of the armed revolution, to allof you, we announce the news that the FSA command is moved to the liberatedareas," Col. Assad said in the video.
The commander complained of a lack of support and materieland "international marginalization" but vowed: "We do not accept compromisewith anyone, until we liberate Damascusfrom the this criminal gang."
The relocation of the military headquarters was carried outa week ago, Brig. Gen. Mustafa al-Sheikh, head of the FSA military council,told the Associated Press.
"There are liberated areas now, and it's better for thecommand to be with the rebels instead of being abroad," Sheikh said.