Turkey sets terms for backing Free Syrian Army: 'Bow to Muslim Brotherhood group ... or else!'

"WASHINGTON — Turkey, aligned to the Muslim Brotherhood, has cracked

down on the rebel army in Syria.

Opposition sources said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan 

has frozen Free Syrian Army bank accounts in an effort to pressure 

the rebels to recognize the authority of the Brotherhood-aligned Syrian National Council.“The popularity of the Free Syrian Army inside Syria is a sore issue with Erdogan and the MB,... From a strategic point of view, control of the Free Syrian Army by the MB is an essential component for which it must not fail.”

Washington-based opposition movement asserted that Ankara imposed sanctions on FSA on Nov. 30 after the secular rebel army refused to take orders from SNC. FSA, based in Turkey, was said to be entirely dependent on Ankara for safe haven of its fighters as well as training and logistics. The sources said FSA attacks on Syrian military installations and

convoys increased the credibility of the rebel force, particularly with NATO. They said Britain and France were persuaded to cooperate with FSA, which consists of thousands of deserters from the Syrian Army.

For its part, SNC has been strongly supported by Arab opponents of

Assad. They were said to include Qatar and Saudi Arabia, deemed primary

financiers of the revolt in Syria.

“Tensions are also rising over the little financial aid the FSA is 

getting from Saudi Arabia and Qatar whose aim is to control the organization 

to serve the MB,”..."