Gulf states to pay rebel salaries
ISTANBUL-Hürriyet Daily News
Syrian rebels will be funded by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. AFP photo
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are creating a fund to pay the salaries of members of the rebel Free Syrian Army and soldiers who defect from the al-Assad regime and join the ranks of the opposition.The head of the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) announced Sunday that the group would pay the salaries of all rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. “The SNC will take charge of the payment of the fixed salaries of all officers, soldiers, and others who are members of the Free Syrian Army,” SNC President Burhan Ghalioun told the Friends of the Syrian People conference in Istanbul.
Members of the Friends’ group also committed to continuing to provide funds to meet humanitarian needs in support of the Syrian people.
