Syrian opposition ‘an embarrassment,’ say commentators

Syria persists in leading the Arab news Wednesday, as violence engulfs the Kurdish region of the country and opposition organizations continue to bicker in Cairo.

“The opposition conference adopts regime change and support for the ‘Free Syrian Army,'” reads the headline of London-based daily Al-Hayat, which reports a dispute within the ranks of the opposition convened in Cairo as to whether a followup committee should be formed to oversee the implementation of the decisions passed.

A-Sharq Al-Awsat cites opposition sources which claim that 70,000 Syrian soldiers have defected so far, but nevertheless violence continues to spread to the outskirts of Damascus as well as to the Kurdish mountains, which have so far remained relatively calm. The daily, which displays the photo of a destroyed Syrian tank in a damaged Aleppo street, reports that villages in the Kurdish region have been turned into “a hell” by the Assad forces.

A-Sharq Al-Awsat, as well as London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, view Assad’s interview with the Turkish daily Cumhuriyet as a tacit apology for downing the Turkish aircraft.

Al-Quds Al-Arabi editor-in-chief Abd Al-Bari Atwan writes that the Syrian opposition conference was an “embarrassment” and served as a gift for the regime, displaying how fragmented the opposition is. He says that the Syrian people are sick of conferences and need real action.

Atwan concludes that Egypt is currently the only unbiased country capable of rescuing Syria from its bloody impasse.

“If the Gulf states proposed an initiative to rescue Yemen from dictatorship and corruption… why should’nt Egypt offer a similar initiative in Syria, enjoying good relations with Russia and China on the one hand and with the United States and Europe on the other,” writes Atwan.

Tareq Homayed, editor-in-chief of A-Sharq Al-Awsat, considers Iraq to be “the first country to defect from Syria,” following statements by its foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari, who called the Assad regime dictatorial. Now, only the governments of Lebanon and Iran still side with Syria, notes Homayed, adding that Russia seems to be undecided on the matter.

“It is clear today that Iraq, despite the Iranian influence on it, ceased to fear Syria,” writes Homayed. “The dictator of Damascus has become a paper lion [a play on words on Assad’s name, which means lion in Arabic] in the eyes of Iraqis.”

Iran’s meddling still a concern

Iran’s hyperactivity continues to be widely covered by the Arab press Wednesday. Al-Hayat reports on its ballistic missile test Tuesday and its ratification of a law allowing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, American ambassador to Yemen Gerald Feierstein gives A-Sharq Al-Awsat an exclusive interview in which he accuses Iran of buying the loyalty not only of Houthi rebels in the north (who are Shiite), but also of separatists in the south. Feierstein tells the daily that the United States is “extremely concerned” about Iran’s growing influence in Yemen, trying to spread “anarchy and extremism” in the country and thwart its democratic transition.

Libya raises its state of alert to highest level

Dubai-based news channel Al-Arabiya reports that Libya has raised its state of alert to the highest level, reaching a state of emergency during the parliamentary election period which will end July 7.

These are the first elections to take place in the country since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in October 2011. Libyans will elect 200 members of the National Assembly whose first task will be to draft a new constitution, the channel reports.

The high elections commission in Benghazi was ransacked just days ago by protesters who burned ballots and voting boxes, demanding self-rule for eastern Libya.