Turkey sets terms for backing Free Syrian Army: Bow to Muslim Brotherhood group

Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Turkey, aligned to the Muslim Brotherhood, has cracked

down on the rebel army in Syria.

Opposition sources said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan

has frozen Free Syrian Army bank accounts in an effort to pressure

the rebels to recognize the authority of the Brotherhood-aligned Syrian

National Council.

“The popularity of the Free Syrian Army inside Syria is a sore issue with Erdogan and the MB,” the Reform Party of Syria said. “From a strategic point of view, control of the Free Syrian Army by the MB is an essential component for which it must not fail.”

The Washington-based opposition movement asserted that Ankara imposed sanctions on FSA on Nov. 30 after the secular rebel army refused to take orders from SNC. FSA, based in Turkey, was said to be entirely dependent on Ankara for safe haven of its fighters as well as training and logistics.

The sources said FSA attacks on Syrian military installations and

convoys increased the credibility of the rebel force, particularly with NATO. They said Britain and France were persuaded to cooperate with FSA, which consists of thousands of deserters from the Syrian Army.

For its part, SNC has been strongly supported by Arab opponents of

Assad. They were said to include Qatar and Saudi Arabia, deemed primary

financiers of the revolt in Syria.

“Tensions are also rising over the little financial aid the FSA is

getting from Saudi Arabia and Qatar whose aim is to control the organization

to serve the MB,” RPS, which supports the secular opposition, said.

In late November, Turkey hosted the first meeting of the leadership of

FSA and SNC. Following the session in the southwestern town of Hatay, SNC

said FSA agreed to end all but defensive operations in Syria.

RPS president Farid Ghadry said SNC contains elements of the Palestinian

insurgency group Hamas. Ghadry cited Ahmed Ramadan, identified as a leading

operative and, until May, news director of the Hamas television

station in Beirut.

“Ahmed Ramadan today is one of the behind-the-scene operatives of the

SNC providing capital, logistics and advice,” RPS said. “That’s a known and

public fact to many Syrians, including two RPS supporters who attended the

first meeting.”

RPS said Turkey has directed French military aid to Islamic fighters who

posed as defectors from FSA. RPS said Erdogan sought to recruit Western

support for the Brotherhood, targeted as a future proxy for Turkey in Syria.

“The MB military wing would become Turkey’s proxy against the Kurds,”

RPS said.

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