Syria opposition mulls opening US offices

WASHINGTON - Agence France-Presse

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland confirmed that the U.S. administration would support Syrian Opposition Council about opening an office in Washington and New York.

The Syrian opposition is looking to open offices in Washington and New York, a top US official confirmed Wednesday, adding that the move would have the support of the American administration.

But the opposition coalition, headed by Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, would not be taking over the Syrian embassy in the US capital city.

"We are in discussion with the Syrian Opposition Council about opening an office in Washington. With regard to an office in New York, we're supportive of that too," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

She also confirmed the council had appointed Syrian-American Najib Ghadbian, a professor of political science at the University of Arkansas, as its representative in the United States.

Washington late last year recognized the opposition coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people, and has been working with it to help oust President Bashar al-Assad.

In a surprise gesture supported by Washington, Khatib recently called on Assad to agree to let Vice President Faruq al-Sharaa open peace talks with the opposition, in a bid to end the war in which more than 60,000 people have died.