US slams Syrian regime for punitive actions against Geneva II opposition delegates

WASHINGTONFeb. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of State condemned actions attributed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime following reports that it has taken punitive actions against Syrian Opposition Coalition delegates to the Geneva II peace talks.

Following reports that the Assad regime has arrested delegates' family members, designated delegates as terrorists, and seized delegates' assets, the State Department issued a statement Wednesday calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the unfairly arrested, including delegate Mohammed Sabra's brother, Mahmoud Sabra.

The State Department used its condemnation of the Assad regime's actions to distinguish the Syrian government from "the moderate opposition." Whilst the government is "seeking to suppress the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people... the moderate opposition is working courageously to secure a genuine political transition that meets these aspirations and enables to the people to independently and democratically determine their own future."

The punitive actions taken against the Syrian Opposition Coalition delegates, the State Department stated, is "not new behavior for the Assad regime."

[State Department]