UK, Syria ask for UN sanctions against Jabhat al-Nusra
Damascus calls on Security Council to level similar penalties on rebel group as faced by al-Qaeda
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — UN diplomats say Syria and Britain are separately seeking to impose UN sanctions against the radical rebel group Jabhat al-Nusra, one of the dominant forces in the Syrian civil war.
Syria asked the UN Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against al-Qaeda to add al-Nusra as a separate group subject to an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban, the diplomats said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because committee actions are private.
Britain blocked Syria’s action, saying al-Nusra has pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and therefore should be listed as an alias of al-Qaeda, subject to the same sanctions, the diplomats said.
Additions to the sanctions blacklist must be approved by all 15 Security Council members. Diplomats said members have until Tuesday to object to the British proposal.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.