US pledges 60 mn to Syria opposition

Kerry made the announcement after a meeting with Syrian opposition leaders in Rome.

On Wednesday,senior administration officials said a training mission for the rebels at a base in the region,already under way,represented the deepest US involvement yet in the Syrian conflict,though the size and scope of the mission is not clear.

Before arriving in Rome,Kerry in Paris said the Syrian opposition needed additional assistance and indicated that the United States and its partners planned to provide some.

One major goal of the administration is to help the opposition build up its credibility within Syria by providing traditional government services to the civilian population.

Since the conflict erupted two years ago,the US has sent 365 million in humanitarian aid to Syrians. American officials have been increasingly worried that extremist members of the resistance against the government of President Bashar al-Assad,notably the al-Nusra Front,which the US has asserted is affiliated with al-Qaeda,will take control of portions of Syria and cement its authority by providing public services,much as Hezbollah has done in Lebanon.

Some folks on the ground that we dont support and whose interests do not align with ours are delivering some of that help, Kerry said.

The aid package announced Thursday is intended to support civilian efforts such as sanitation projects,education,and security. Another major goal in providing assistance is to jump-start negotiations over a political transition.