The Syrian National Coalition, an opposition group to the Syrian regime, is demanding a ban on all Syrian air power over populated areas in addition to a ban on chemical weapons.
CNN News quotes a statement the opposition group released, “The world must not allow the Assad regime to take advantage of the Russian initiative and their joining the treaty on the prohibition of the use of chemical weapons as an excuse to continue the daily slaughter of the Syrian people with impunity.”
Just Saturday, the United States and Russia agreed on a deal that would decrease the threat of an American airstrike if Syria agreed to release its stockpile of chemical weapons.
General Salim Idris, head of the rebels’ nominal military command, condemned the deal.
“All of this initiative does not interest us. Russia is a partner with the regime in killing the Syrian people [...] A crime against humanity has been committed, and there is not any mention of accountability,” The New York Times quoted.
The deal calls for a complete list of all Syrian chemical weapons by the end of next week. All weapons must be destroyed by mid-2014. In addition, all chemical weapons machinery and equipment must be destroyed by the end of November.
While Syria has agreed to partake in this deal, The Syrian National Coalition accused President Bashar Al-Assad’s administration of “deceit when it comes to dealing with the treaties and empty promises in the regime attempt to buy more time.”
The Syrian National Coalition ended their statement with a call to arms from Syrian opposition forces to neutralize government threat.