MESOP: Syria opposition sacks rebel command over graft allegations

WEST KURDISTAN (SYRIA) – June 27th, 2014 – Al Bawaba Jordan – As the White House asked lawmakers to funnel $500 million towards moderate insurgents, Syria’s opposition government sacked the military command of the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) late Thursday over corruption allegations, Agence France-presse reported.

Chief of the opposition government Ahmad Tohme “decided to disband the Supreme Military Council and refer its members to the government’s financial and administration committee for investigation,” a statement said.

The decision came amid widespread reports of corruption within the ranks of the FSA, which is backed by Western and Arab governments in its battle to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. The government in exile said it was also sacking FSA chief of staff Brigadier General Abdelilah al-Bashir.
It called on “revolutionary forces on the ground” to set up within a month a new defense council and to fully restructure the rebel army’s command.
The news comes after nine top FSA officers resigned in June over shortages and mismanagement of military aid from donor countries.