Opposition says Syrian rebel fighters to get salaries (BBC)

[pinto]

Opposition says Syrian rebel fighters to get salaries

Rebels fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria will be paid salaries, the opposition Syrian National Council has announced.

Money will also be given to soldiers who defect from the government's army, the SNC added, after a "Friends of the Syrian people" summit in Turkey.

Conference delegates said wealthy Gulf Arab states would supply millions of dollars a month for the SNC fund.

The meeting recognised the SNC as the "legitimate representative" of Syrians.

Damascus dubbed the gathering of some 70 Western and Arab foreign ministers in Istanbul as the "enemies of Syria", and key players remained absent, including Russia, China and Iran.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17578248

[Igel]

1. That makes them an army. n/t

[pinto]

2. Parsing the loyalties of partisan, religious and tribal factions is confusing. Yeah though, I agree.

Civil war...

[provis99]

4. more likely, it makes them mercenaries.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Salaries, I am almost smelling uniforms.

This is a critical step to recognition as lawful combatants. Watch for tat from turkey.

[riderinthestorm]

5. The Saudis funding a Sunni sectarian revolution in Syria. Yeah, that'll end well. nt