Canada ‘at odds’ with allies on Syrian rebels as new report cites abuse

OTTAWA – A newly released document says Canada is “at odds” with key allies by not recognizing the Syrian opposition.

But Tuesday’s release of a separate human-rights report offers support to the Harper government’s decision not to follow the United States, Britain and others in recognizing the disparate coalition of rebel groups.

Human Rights Watch, the New York-based watchdog, said rebel fighters executed civilians in their custody, and killed others with indiscriminate sniper fire and mortar attacks during a one-week battle in a mainly Christian village last month in northern Syria.

The report was unable to say which of several opposition groups was responsible for the abuses documented.

Tuesday’s report follows a briefing note on the Syrian crisis for Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird that reiterates Canada’s opposition to recognizing the Syrian rebel groups.

The July memo was obtained under access to information, and says Canada’s decision not to recognize Syrian rebels has cost it membership in an 11-country group that is trying to find a diplomatic solution to the long-running civil war.