LONDON — Britain recognized the fledgling Syrian National Coalition on Tuesday, joining France in saying the opposition group was the "sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people."
The announcement, by Foreign Secretary William Hague, could boost the group's chances of securing foreign aid and arms as it seeks to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
"It is strongly in the interests of Syria, of the wider region and of the United Kingdom that we support them and deny space to extremist groups," Hague told parliament, saying other European Union (EU) nations would follow suit.
The Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, set up this month to unite diverse opposition voices, welcomed the move.
"This step is very important and I think it will encourage more Syrians to join the coalition and trust it and it will also encourage other European states to recognise it," the coalition's spokesman Walid al-Bunni said.
France was the first EU country to recognize the group, going further than Monday's EU-wide recognition of the coalition as the legitimate representatives of the "aspirations" of the Syrian people.
"It's a morale boost. It gives some credibility to the opposition, and it could lay the platform practically for more effective ways of channelling support, plus some quasi-military support," said David Butter, Middle East expert at London-based thinktank Chatham House.
Washington has pledged to work with the Syrian opposition coalition, but has stopped short of fully recognising it.
Turkey and Gulf Arab countries were quick to endorse the coalition, formed on Nov. 11 in Doha.
ASSURANCES
Britain and France, along with the United States, led the military campaign against Libyan former leader Moammar Gadhafi last year, and Paris said it was now considering whether to arm Syria's rebels.
Britain says no option is off the table, but Hague told parliament that no decision had been taken to supply military aid. The EU has an arms embargo on Syria, which is expected to be renewed on Dec. 1.
The West has been more wary in dealing with the Syrian opposition, due to concerns that some groups lack support on the ground and worries about Islamic radicals in the rebel ranks.
U.N. investigators have said rebel fighters may have committed war crimes.
Hague said he has received assurances from the Syrian coalition that the mainly Sunni Muslim opposition would respect Syria's other minorities and uphold human rights.
Assad allies Russia and China have so far vetoed strong U.N. Security Council action against the Syrian president.
An estimated 38,000 people have been killed in Syria since an Arab Spring-inspired uprising against Assad's autocratic rule began in March last year. The initially peaceful protests turned into an armed rebellion after harsh government crackdowns.
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