Italy says no ‘Friends of Syria’ meeting planned

The Italian foreign ministry on Monday denied a news report that top officials from countries that support the Syrian opposition planned to meet in Rome on Sunday, saying no such meeting was scheduled.

Published: 2 September 2013 21:53 CEST

Italy says no 'Friends of Syria' meeting planned

A rebel fighter points his weapon at regime forces in Syria's eastern town of Deir on September 2nd. Photo. Abo Shuja/AFP

"There will be no meeting of the Friends of Syria in Rome, not on Sunday or any other day," a spokesman for the ministry told AFP. "We do not have any
meetings scheduled for this group."

Earlier, Italian news agency ANSA said the meeting was planned for this weekend and would probably occur "at the level of foreign affairs ministers", without giving further details.

The 11 countries that make up the Friends of Syria grouping include the United States and France, which are both mulling military action against the Syrian regime. Britain, Turkey and Qatar are also members.

With tensions mounting in the war-torn country, Italy insists that any military intervention in Syria must be sanctioned by the United Nations.

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