Insight - Syria's opposition considers national rebel army, Islamists angered
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/08/25/uk-syria-rebels-insight-idUKBRE97O07F20130825
(Reuters) - Syria's Western-backed political opposition plans to create the nucleus of a national army to bring order to the disparate rebel forces battling President Bashar al-Assad and counter the strength of al Qaeda-linked rebel brigades.
The latest attempt to unite the rebels coincides with fierce debates in Washington and other Western capitals over whether and how to boost support for Assad's opponents after an alleged chemical weapons attack by government forces on Wednesday.
Chaos among opposition forces and al-Qaeda's growing role are barriers to any intervention.
Plans for an army are still under wraps but details began emerging earlier this month before the gas attack. It has the blessing of the rebels' patron Saudi Arabia, which took over as the main regional backer of Assad's foes earlier this year.