Over the last week some Lebanese and Arab print and broadcast media have carried a story (see links below) which states that the Free Syrian Army has arrested Lieutenant Hussam Al-Assad, a cousin of Bashar Al-Assad. The extremist salafi Sheikh Aroor is quoted as confirming the arrest. The photo used by the media in this story is the photo of Ribal Al-Assad, the Director of the ODFS.

The ODFS condemn the disinformation that is being presented by these media outlets. The use of the photo of Ribal Al-Assad in a story that clearly does not involve him is unlawful and totally unacceptable. Furthermore there is no Lieutenant Hussam Al-Assad in the Al-Assad family.

The ODFS calls on the media outlets to apologise immediately. Also the ODFS calls on the Syrian opposition not to spread disinformation and lies, as all that does is help the Syrian regime by giving the regime a pretext to label the opposition as dishonest, non transparent and not credible.Therefore this will only lead to the opposition losing credibility in the eyes of the Syrian people and the world.

The opposition should demonstrate that they are better than the repressive regime which propogates lies and suppresses freedoms, by showing through their actions, that they are a viable, genuine and transparent alternative to the regime, which is working for democracy.

There is no military solution to this conflict. A diplomatic solution based on the conditions set out in the Kofi Annan Plan is the only way forward.

We call on the Syrian opposition to come together onto one platform to unite and speak with one voice. The international community must play its part in facilitating this as it is the only way to start a political process leading to a peaceful inclusive democratic transition to a national unity government and to democracy and freedom.

The alternative is an all out civil war, and potentially a regional war which will benefit no one.