Syrian opposition calls for ban on Damascus' air power

Published September 15th, 2013 - 09:23 GMT
(From L-R) Member of the General Secretariat of the Syrian National Council Mohammad Farouk Tayfour, General Secretary of the Syrian National Council Bader Jamous, chief of the Syrian National Council (SNC) Ahmad Jarba (C), and member of the coalition Monzer Akbik attend a meeting of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition forces on September 13, 2013, in Istanbul. (AFP)
(From L-R) Member of the General Secretariat of the Syrian National Council Mohammad Farouk Tayfour, General Secretary of the Syrian National Council Bader Jamous, chief of the Syrian National Council (SNC) Ahmad Jarba (C), and member of the coalition Monzer Akbik attend a meeting of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition forces on September 13, 2013, in Istanbul. (AFP)

Syria's opposition demanded on Sunday that the international community move to impose a ban on the Damascus regime's use of its air power in urban areas, in addition to its chemical weapons.

“The Syrian National Coalition insists that the prohibition of chemical weapons, the use of which has left more than 1,400 civilians dead, be extended to the use of ballistic missiles and aircraft against urban areas,” it said in a statement.

The National Coalition recognized the need to “seize this opportunity to halt the regime's campaign against residential areas and to end the suffering of the Syrian people.”

We should not allow the Syrian regime to use its accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention as an excuse to continue killing Syrian people and escape punishment,” said the statement.

“Securing the regime's chemical weapons must be accompanied by a search for justice with the perpetrators of the chemical weapons attacks brought before the International Criminal Court.”

In addition, the Syrian coalition asked supporters to strengthen the opposition's military capabilities.

By doing so, this would enable it to “neutralize” the regime's air power and force Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end his military campaign.

The coalition highlighted the need to accept a political solution to guarantee a democratic transition. 

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