Syrian opposition: US must arm rebels despite Islamists

Syria's opposition says the United States must overcome its fear of Islamists among the rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, and start arming the resistance movement to show it wants the entire ruling elite removed.

"We have been kissing the hand of the United States and the rest of the world for the 16 months to intervene. Now, after Assad spared no one in Syria, the United States is surprised that al-Qaeda may be operating in the country," veteran opposition campaigner Fawaz al-Tello said from Istanbul. (Reuters)