DAMASCUS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- After two years of deadly and protracted crisis, Syria seems everywhere but close to a peaceful resolution with some Western powers mull arming the rebels on ground while the exiled opposition is planning a brazen move to establish an interim government to run what it describes as " librated" Syrian areas.
Despite the too many international conferences held over the past couple of years with voices calling for the need of political solution to Syria, some Western countries have recently divulged their outright backing to the rebels and the opposition in general, becoming thus a side in the conflict rather than impartial solution-makers.
Hundreds of rebel fighters were being given sophisticated- weapons training organized and authorized by the United States at a camp in neighboring Jordan, the CNN network said in a report citing unnamed source from rebels' ranks.
The report said that 300 fighters have already completed the course and crossed the border into Syria on Thursday, adding that more rebel fighters are currently undergoing training.
The CNN story collaborated with what Syria's al-Watan newspaper said on Sunday that hundreds of well-armed jihadists have entered Syria through the borders with Jordan, adding that another 15,000 are poised to head to Syria after finishing special training in Lebanon.
The report came at a time when Britain and France are pushing for lifting an arms embargo to rebels to tilt the balance in the fight against the Syrian troops.
Yet, Britain's David Cameron and France's Francois Hollande have failed to convince other European leaders to reverse a ban on arming the rebels in Syria, but Cameron hinted that he and Hollande might be prepared to go it alone.
The British prime minister claimed that a military solution might lead to a political one, while Hollande said that he has received guarantees from the Syrian rebels that any future arms would not end up in the wrong hands.
Following the reports, the Syrian parliament called for "not allowing some European governments to stir up the crisis in Syria and inflict more harm and damage to humanity," warning that these harm will also affect European citizens.
Observers believe that sending arms to the rebels on ground will not be conducive to bringing both sides on the negotiation table but rather embolden the rebels into staging more attacks against the government troops.
With armament reports grasping the headlines, Syria's main opposition coalition is set to meet in Turkey's Istanbul on Monday and Tuesday to name a prime minister that would form an interim government to run the "liberated" areas in Syria.
A total of 12 names are running for the election, reports said, adding that 10 of whom are in exile while other two are inside Syria but their names have not been disclosed for security reasons.
The opposition's move came almost a week after the Arab League demanded it to form a government in order to be given Syria's seat in the bloc based on Qatar's demand.
The coalition itself was formed in Qatar last year under pressure from some Gulf states that have emerged as main backers to the political opposition and the armed rebels of Syria.
The head of the coalition, Moaz al-Khatib, is reportedly going to represent Syria in the upcoming Arab League Summit in Qatar at the end of March. The summit, reports said, will undertake " special decisions" related to arming the opposition.
Aside from political talks, several reports indicated that Qatar and Saudi Arabia have already sent weapons to the armed militias in Syria through Jordan.
The opposition move would probably slam the door before any possible negotiation with the Syrian government, which is still controlling major centers across the country, mainly the heavily fortified capital, analysts say.
The intensity of violence and counter-attacks have stepped up recently ahead of the farce of the opposition's interim government, while observers believe that the rebels are trying to gain more ground to strengthen position before Western and regional powers provide either broader recognition or larger support.
On Sunday, Syria's state-TV said as many as 25 people were massacred in the country's northern province of Hasaka by armed men. The opposition activists also reported shelling and clashes in different hotspots nationwide.
Such incidents were unthinkable before the crisis, but have become daily routine after the two years of unrest that UN says has killed over 70,000 people and pushed one million to seek shelter in neighboring countries.
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