Syria accuses UN members of backing terrorism

Syria has accused some UN Security Council members of supporting “terrorism” in a speech clearly aimed at the United States and its allies that support the Syrian opposition.

Addressing the UN General Assembly’s annual gathering of world leaders, foreign minister Walid al-Moallem al-Moallem said that efforts by Syria and the world to end the 18-month war will fail unless Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Libya and others stop arming and financing the opposition and instead “encourage dialogue and renounce violence”.

Mr Al-Moallem argued that the regime of president Bashar Assad is confronting a myriad of conspiracies by internal and external forces determined to end its 40-year rule and accused forces as diverse as the media and international organisations of attempting to destabilise the country.

He called for a political solution and Syrian-led dialogue to agree on a roadmap to “a more pluralistic and democratic Syria.”

Radwan Ziadeh, a US-based spokesman for the chief opposition group, the Syrian National Council, said it was impossible to believe calls for political dialogue were genuine.

“He is calling for dialogue while his air force is attacking civilians in each city,” Mr Ziadeh said. “He is a liar representing the propaganda of the Assad regime.”