TRIPOLI
The Syrian National Council (SNC) is making preparations to open a representation in Libyan capital of Tripoli in several weeks.
Libya was one of the first countries to recognize the SNC as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people after the meeting of "Friends of Syria" in Istanbul at the beginning of April.
The Libyan National Transitional Council in March made a promise to the SNC to deliver 100 million USD as aid and stated that the Syrian opposition could open a representation in Libya.
Speaking to the Anadolu Agency (AA), SNC's Libya representative Enes al-Khalid said that the Syrian Embassy in Libya was currently closed and that the new representation office would be inaugurated in several weeks.
The representation in Libya is a crucial development for us. The office to be opened in Libya would be SNC's first diplomatic representation in the world, al-Khalid stated.
Syrian opposition members in February had entered the Syrian Embassy in Tripoli and hoisted their own flag. Libya then asked the Syrian Ambassador to leave the country. Syrian diplomats left Tripoli during protests against the Syrian regime.
-"There is no one who went to Syria to fight"-
Al-Khalid stressed that Libya was supporting the Syrian opposition but that they did not yet receive the 100 million USD promised to them.
There has been no one whe went to Syria from Libya to fight against the Assad regime. What we need is weapons and money. 65 percent of the Syrian people is made up of young individuals. We have enough men to fight, al-Khalid noted.
We expect support from the whole world. Once the 100 million USD is provided to us, we will be in a position to take control in several Syrian cities, al-Khalid emphasized.
Libya gave us enormous political support and we appreciate that, al-Khalid stressed.
-"Operations in Homs continue"-
I am from the city of Homs. Cease-fire could not be reached in cities like Hama and Homs. The situation in those cities is terrible, al-Khalid said.
The Syrian administration has increased attacks in Homs lately and began using bigger weapons, al-Khalid underlined.
The AA correspondent heard sounds of explosions in Homs while al-Khalid was in connection with his brother through the internet.
"As you can hear, the Syrian administration is using bigger weapons and conducting air bombardment. A few hours ago, a building near my home was bombed," al-Khalid said.
The Syrian administration will sooner or later go away. However, we need support to realize this aim, al-Khalid stated.
A large number of Syrians left Syria for neighboring countries after the government crackdown and many of them also came to Libya. Around 40,000 Syrians live in Libya today. Half of the Syrians in Libya escaped the violence in Syria and have to live in tough conditions, al-Khalid also said.
