United Kingdom: Diplomatic contacts with
Photo: Aurel Obreja/AP/TT

United Kingdom: Diplomatic contacts with HTS

The United Kingdom and the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have had diplomatic contacts, says the United Kingdom's Foreign Minister David Lammy to BBC.

We want to see a representative government, an inclusive government. We want to see that the stockpiles of chemical weapons are secured and not used, and we want to see to it that there is no further violence, he says about the conversation.

On Saturday, the news came that the USA has also had contact with the HTS rebels who have taken control over Syria.

On Sunday, the UK announced a humanitarian aid package of 50 million pounds, equivalent to nearly 700 million Swedish kronor, to vulnerable Syrians.

For all these reasons, we are trying, with the help of the channels we have available, to handle HTS where we must, says Lammy according to the British public service company.

When asked if HTS can be removed from the UK's list of terrorist groups, the Foreign Minister says that the rebel group is still an organization that originated from al-Qaida.

We will judge them by their actions, I will not comment on future bans, but we naturally realize that this is an important moment for Syria, he adds.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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