(Vatican Radio) British Foreign Secretary William Hague has said the UK has decided
to recognise the Syrian opposition coalition. He told lawmakers that the National
Coalition of the Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces was the "sole legitimate
representative" of the Syrian people. He said they were now a "credible" alternative
to the Assad government.
A spokesman for the coalition, Walid al-Bunni, told
Reuters the UK's move was "very important" and would "encourage more Syrians to join
the coalition and trust it and it will also encourage other European states to recognise
it".
Up to 30,000 people have been killed in the 18-month conflict, according
to British estimates.
Listen to the report from correspondent Nathan
Morley: