Syria Slams France, Says Opposition 'Declared War'

A meeting of the Syrian opposition hosted by the Qatari capital amounted to a "declaration of war," the country's deputy foreign minister, Faisal Muqdad, said on Wednesday, describing France's decision to recognize the opposition alliance as "immoral.”

"The Doha meeting was a declaration of war. These people (the opposition) don't want to solve the issue peacefully through the mechanisms of the U.N.," Muqdad told Agence France Presse.

"We read the Doha document and they reject any dialogue with the government."

Opposition factions met in Doha, Qatar for four days until Sunday, when they agreed to set up the National Coalition and bring together rebel forces under a supreme military council, as well as establish a judicial commission for rebel areas.

They plan to form a provisional government once the coalition has been widely recognized internationally.

France's decision to recognize a Syrian opposition alliance as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people is "immoral," Muqdad said.

"Allow me to use the word, this is an immoral position because it allows the killing of Syrians," Muqdad said. "They are supporting killers, terrorists and they are encouraging the destruction of Syria."

France on Tuesday became the first Western country to recognize the coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

The United States has recognized the coalition, but stopped short of treating it as the only legitimate representative of the Syrians.

The National Coalition's declaration also included an outright rejection of any negotiation with the regime.

The regime of President Bashar Assad has long accused rebels of being funded and mobilized by foreign powers.

"We are ready to discuss with the Syrian opposition which is led in Syria and not led or fabricated elsewhere," said Muqdad. "We want to participate to a national dialogue with everybody who wants to solve the issue peacefully."

Muqdad's statements were the first Syrian official reaction to the Doha meeting.