Syrian opposition plans to send representation to Libya

Libya was one of the first countries to recognize the SNC as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people after the meeting of the “Friends of Syria” in İstanbul at the beginning of April. The Libyan National Transitional Council promised in March deliver $100 million in aid to the SNC and stated that the Syrian opposition could open up representative offices in Libya.

Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, SNC's Libya representative Enes al-Khalid said the Syrian Embassy in Libya was currently closed and that an inauguration ceremony for the office for the new mission would be held in a few weeks. “Representation in Libya is a crucial development for us. The office to be opened in Libya would be the SNC's first diplomatic representation in the world,” al-Khalid stated.

In February, Syrian opposition members entered the Syrian Embassy in Tripoli and hoisted their own flag. Libya then asked the Syrian ambassador to leave the country, and Syrian diplomats left Tripoli following protests against the Syrian regime.

‘No one from Libya has gone to Syria to fight'

Al-Khalid stressed that Libya was supporting the Syrian opposition, but that they have not yet receive the $100 million that was promised.

“No one has gone to Syria from Libya to fight against the [Bashar al-]Assad regime. What we need is weapons and money. Sixty-five percent of the Syrian people are young individuals. We have enough men to fight,” al-Khalid noted.

“We expect support from the whole world. Once the $100 million is provided to us, we will be in a position to take control in several Syrian cities,” al-Khalid added. He also stressed that Libya has provided enormous political support and that it was greatly appreciated.

‘Operations in Homs continue'

“I am from the city of Homs. The cease-fire has not reached cities like Hama and Homs. The situation in those cities is terrible,” al-Khalid said.

The Syrian administration has increased attacks in Homs as of late and has begun using heavier weaponry, al-Khalid underlined. Anatolia's correspondent reported the sound of explosions in in the background as al-Khalid spoke with his brother, who is in Homs, via an Internet connection during the interview.

“As you can hear, the Syrian administration is using heavier weaponry and conducting air bombardment. A few hours ago, a building near my home was bombed,” al-Khalid said. “The Syrian administration will leave sooner or later. However, we need support in order to realize this aim.”

A large number of Syrians have left Syria for neighboring countries after the government crackdown and many of them escaped to Libya. Around 40,000 Syrians are in Libya today. Half of the Syrians refuges in Libya escaped violence in Syria, but are facing tough living conditions in Libya, al-Khalid added.