Al-Qaeda-linked group in Syria says truce 'humiliating'
BEIRUT - An al-Qaeda-linked group in Syria has said the nearly week-old cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey is "humiliating" and those who agreed to it made a "big mistake."
The cease-fire, which excludes the al-Qaeda-linked Fatah al-Sham Front as well as the Islamic State group, has largely held, except for intense fighting in the Barada Valley outside Damascus, a major source of water for the capital. Both the government and the rebels have accused the other side of violations.
Fatah al-Sham spokesman Hossam al-Shafei said in an interview published late Wednesday by Al-Jazeera Net that the current truce only protects Syrian President Bashar Assad and allied Iranian-backed militias.
"What was agreed upon was a big mistake and a responsibility of everyone that attended and signed," al-Shafei was quoted as saying. "The people of (Syria) didn't offer all these sacrifices to be handed this humiliating agreement."
Asked if his group would accept the outcome of the expected peace talks, he said the Syria rebellion "today needs someone to unify its ranks and restore its spirit and strengthen its political position by battlefield achievements." He added that there will be no resolution to Syria's conflict without Assad's exit from power, which is not on the agenda of the talks.
