Syria opposition hails EU's blacklisting Hezbollah

[July 23, 2013]  BEIRUT (AP) -- Syria's main Western-backed opposition group has welcomed an EU decision to place the military wing of Hezbollah on the bloc's terror list, calling it a "step in the right direction."

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Syrian National Coalition group also calls for leaders of the Lebanese Shiite militant group to be put on trial for their role in the Syrian war.

Hezbollah has sent its fighters to bolster President Bashar Assad's forces in their assault on rebel-held areas in Syria.

The EU's 28 foreign ministers reached the decision to blacklist Hezbollah's military wing Monday after prolonged diplomatic pressure from the U.S. and Israel, which consider the group a terrorist organization.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.