Rifts emerge among Syrian factions

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PARIS, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The Syrian president said Wednesday the situation in his country was improving as a member of an exiled opposition council resigned because of internal rows.

French President Francois Hollande said this week that Paris would recognize a provisional government in Damascus once Syria's splintered political opposition comes together to form a ruling council.

Parisian activist Bassma Kodmani announced, however, she was resigning from the exiled Syrian National Council "because of a difference of views over how to move forward," reports Bloomberg News.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague announced plans this month to support Syrian political opposition groups with millions of dollars of financial aid. A British consultant told the Daily Telegraph newspaper this week that while Western powers weren't "king-making" in Syria, support was coming forward to help support the opposition.

Syrian President Bashar Assad told local television the "situation is better" in his country, though more time was needed to tackle the rebellion.

The United Nations has accused Damascus of war crimes during the 17-month conflict. The Syrian government, however, says it's tackling an insurgency fueled in part by its adversaries.

Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Qadri Jamil said last week considerations could be made for the departure of Assad, something U.S. and other Western governments have said was a key requirement for ending the violence.