French FM reiterates support for SNC chief

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Monday issued a fresh message of support for the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) and, particularly, for its leader Ahmad Al-Jarba. In a statement, Fabius said he had talks by telephone earlier in the day with Al-Jarba on the situation on the ground in Syria, especially the fierce fighting around Aleppo and the heavy bombardment of that town by Syrian government forces, including indiscriminate air raids that have killed hundreds of people over several days. "I condemn with the greatest firmness the odious acts committed these past days by the regime of Bashar Al-Assad, notably in Aleppo," Fabius said. He said he and Al-Jarba agreed to "actively prepare" the Geneva 2 Conference on Syria which is due to be held in January. A series of meetings are to be scheduled concerning this event, Fabius added.