Syria rebels want interim government to rule entire nation

Syria's rebel chief said in Istanbul on Monday that the mainstream rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) wants an interim government to administer the whole of Syria and not just the areas freed from regime forces. Responding to Western countries' fears that any weapons shipped to rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad's army may end up in the hands of extremists, Selim Idriss said he could guarantee that "these weapons will not fall into the wrong hands". The FSA chief also called on Western countries to train the rebels to ensure chemical weapons believed to be in the loyalist army's possession do not fall into the hands of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah or other pro-Assad groups. Idriss' statements came as the main opposition Syrian National Coalition met in Turkey to select an interim prime minister and government for large swathes of territory in the strife-torn country that have slipped out Assad's control.  "We demand an interim government for all Syrian territory, one that would be the only legitimate government in the country," Idriss, FSA chief of staff, told AFP."Assad's government is an occupation government that has lost its legitimacy." In a press conference later, Idriss said the rebels would respect the interim government's authority. "We would support this government and we would work under the umbrella of this government," Idriss told reporters. Should the 70-odd Coalition members succeed in selecting an interim premier, the rebels would be tasked with ensuring security for the interim government, which is set to be based inside Syria. "With its limited weapons capacity, the FSA can secure the liberated territories against all attacks by the army, except air and missile attacks," Idriss said, reiterating calls to the West to arm the insurgents. "My message is very clear: we in Syria need weapons and ammunition to fight," said the general. France and Britain have already said they are ready to arm the rebels even without EU consensus. "We hope that the European countries take the decision to give us weapons and ammunition... We give them all guarantees that these weapons will not fall into the wrong hands or into the hands of extremists," he said. "We have the means and organisational capacity to ensure that these weapons reach good, safe hands," said Idriss, adding that the FSA's leadership "coordinates with some 90 to 95 percent of (rebel) groups" fighting on the ground. "We in the FSA are fighting to put a stop to an abusive, dictatorial system, which with the help of Russia and Iran is slaughtering the Syrian people and destroying the country... We fight to establish a democracy in the country," he said. Idriss meanwhile lashed out against Western countries for failing so far to provide the rebels with much sought-after weapons. "We are honestly unhappy with the stance taken by the friends of Syria, especially those in the free world -- the European Union and our friends in the United States," he said. While fears that extremists may seize more power in Syria have prompted US caution on the spiralling conflict, President Barack Obama has described the possible future use by the Assad regime of chemical weapons against insurgents as a "red line". "Of course chemical weapons in Syria are not secured. We fear they may be used against us and we fear that the regime may hand them to groups such as Hezbollah," which supports Assad, said Idriss. "We ask the international community to help give us special training to secure these weapons and to make sure they do not fall into the wrong hands," he added.