Summary
Syria's Kurds declared a de facto federal region in Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria Thursday, drawing sharp condemnation from both the Damascus government and its opponents who decried the unilateral move as unconstitutional and setting a dangerous precedent.
Some 200 Kurdish officials, who met in the town of Rmeilan in Syria's predominantly Kurdish province of Hassakeh, insisted they are not partitioning Syria nor seeking secession – but rather making sure the country remains one nation.
word that refers to three distinct enclaves under Kurdish control in northern Syria: Jazira, Kobani and Afrin.Thursday's declaration further complicates the situation on the ground in Syria even as peace talks press ahead in Geneva.
The U.N. envoy for Syria said he held "substantive" talks with the country's opposition Thursday on forging a unity government.
A U.N. aid official, Jan Egeland, said the world body has given the Syrian government its plan to deliver humanitarian aid to 1.1 million Syrians by the end of April.
...