WASHINGTON, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Friday allowed its citizens to transfer funds and offer other services to the Syrian opposition.
The Department of Treasury issued a general license authorizing "export, re-export, sell, or supply, directly or indirectly" to the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, which Washington recognized in December as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
Transfer of funds is among the services authorized, but must be done through the coalition's U.S. office and an account of the group at a U.S. financial institution.
U.S. citizens are not allowed to do transactions with those whose property is frozen by the administration, or engage in supply of items listed on the United States Munitions List, the Treasury said.
As the Syrian conflict was approaching its second anniversary, the Obama administration announced in late February direct aid to the Syrian rebels fighting the government forces and more assistance to the political wing of the opposition to help provide basic services like security, education and sanitation in areas under its control.
The Obama administration has ruled out arming the Syrian opposition for now, but France and Britain are pushing the European Union to allow weapons delivery to the rebels in hopes of breaking the stalemate on the ground, as some 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
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