Britain recognizes Syria opposition coalition: Hague

LONDON / CAIRO - Reuters

British Foreign minister William Hague talks to journalists upon his arrival for an European foreign ministers meeting to agree on a joint approach to the new Syrian opposition and to discuss the escalating Gaza crisis and plans for a military mission in Mali, on November 19, 2012 at the EU Council building in Brussels. AFP photo

Britain has officially recognised the fledgling Syrian National Coalition opposition group, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said earliar today.
 
"Her majesty's government has decided to recognise the national coalition of Syrian revolution and opposition forces as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people," Hague told parliament.
 
The coalition was formed earlier this month in Doha to unite Syria's splintered opposition groups, in an attempt to boost their chances of securing foreign aid and arms in their bid to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian opposition coalition welcomes British recognition

The Cairo-based Syrian National Coalition opposition group on Tuesday welcomed Britain's official recognition of it as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people, a coalition spokesman said.
 
"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," Walid al-Bunni, the coalition spokesman, told Reuters.