Hague announces British recognition for Syrian rebel coalition

The decision to recognise the National Coalition of the Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces – bringing together opponents of President Bashar Assad’s discredited regime – follows a meeting between Mr Hague and the alliance’s leaders on Friday.

In a statement to the Commons yesterday, Mr Hague said the group’s assurances had been “encouraging”.

“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,” he said.

“On the basis of the assurances I received and my consultation with European partners yesterday, Her Majesty’s Government has decided to recognise the National Coalition of the Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.”

Mr Hague said the coalition had promised to leave the door open to other opposition groups which wanted to join them, to appeal to Syrians from all communities and to be a “moderate political force committed to democracy” that would not repeat President Assad’s abuses.

The Foreign Secretary told MPs the Government would press them to uphold their commitments while also offering them practical support.

The coalition will be invited to have a political representative in the UK, and there will be assistance for the opposition in setting up political and humanitarian structures, he said.

A £1m package of communications support will be provided, possibly including mobile internet hubs and satellite phones.

A “stabilisation response team” will be sent to the region to help the coalition meet basic needs.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening was also looking at increasing British assistance to Syrians affected by the conflict, he said.

The opposition alliance was formed from Syria’s disparate opposition groups at a meeting in Doha earlier this month.

Mr Hague condemned the “barbaric violence” of the Assad regime against its own people, 30,000 of whom have been killed so far and 400,000 of whom are now refugees in neighbouring countries.

A political transition was urgently needed and the establishment of the coalition was a “major breakthrough”. “A credible alternative to the Assad regime is emerging that has the growing support of the Arab League, the European Union, the United States and an increasing number of other countries,” he said.