Special Report: Syria's Islamists Seize Control As Moderates Dither -- Reuters
(Reuters) - As the Syrian civil war got under way, a former electrician who calls himself Sheikh Omar built up a brigade of rebel fighters. In two years of struggle against President Bashar al-Assad, they came to number 2,000 men, he said, here in the northern city of Aleppo. Then, virtually overnight, they collapsed.
Omar's group, Ghurabaa al-Sham, wasn't defeated by the government. It was dismantled by a rival band of revolutionaries - hardline Islamists.
The Islamists moved against them at the beginning of May. After three days of sporadic clashes Omar's more moderate fighters, accused by the Islamists of looting, caved in and dispersed, according to local residents. Omar said the end came swiftly.
The Islamists confiscated the brigade's weapons, ammunition and cars, Omar said. "They considered this war loot. Maybe they think we are competitors," he said. "We have no idea about their goals. What we have built in two years disappeared in a single day."
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More News On Syria's Civil War
Syria Live Blog -- Al Jazeera
Syria troops fight rebels near Shiite shrine -- Boston Herald/AP
Hezbollah fighters 'fight rebels near Syria capital' -- FOX News/AFP
Syrian rebels launch attack to block northern highway -- Reuters
Syrian rebels claim attack on Shi'ites in Lebanon -- Reuters
Syrian warplanes strike rebel posts in key northern city of Aleppo amid clashes -- Washington Post/AP
Blast hits military site in Syrian port city -- Al Jazeera
Blast hits Syrian port city of Latakia -- Reuters
Assad forces build up for Aleppo offensive -- UPI
Syria opposition to fight on against Assad -- FOX News/AFP
Syria rebels assail G-8 leaders on Syria -- USA Today
Obama Says Syrian Violence May Spread Without New Government -- Bloomberg
Obama Silent on US Arms to Syrian Rebels -- Voice of America
Limited US arms to Syria unlikely to harm Israel: experts -- FOX News
Syrians turn to dollar as local currency tumbles -- Reuters
The Price of Loyalty in Syria -- Robert Worth, New York Times
5 rules to keep in mind while arming Syrian rebels -- Edward Luttwak, Newsday/Foreign Policy
If Hezbollah Wins Syria -- Daniel Nisman, Wall Street Journal
Analysis - Saudi role in Syria driven by fear of Shi'ite 'full moon' -- Angus McDowall, Reuters
Neither side in Syria wants to talk at the moment -- Francis Matthew, Gulf News
Models for possible Syria intervention -- BBC
Syria Fast Facts -- CNN
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