France condemns attack against al-Iman Mosque in Damascus

France on Friday strongly condemned the attack a day earlier which killed over 40 people and wounded more than 80 in the Al-Iman Mosque in Damascus. The suicide attack killed well-known cleric Sheikh Mohammad Said Al-Bouti, his grandson and many worshippers, news reports said. France on Friday "reiterated its condemnation of all violence against civilians and its commitment to fight terrorism," a statement from the Foreign Ministry said. The assassinated cleric had taken positions close to embattled Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and the attack against him and his followers is being blamed on groups fighting to overthrow the regime. The French government "welcomes the statement by the President of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC), which firmly condemned this barbaric act," the statement noted, drawing a clear line between the SNC groups and other radical or extremist fighters in Syria. The SNC President, Moaz Al-Khatib, leads what is seen as the moderate opposition forces fighting Al-Assad and it has broad support from France and many other countries. France is also pushing for the European Union to lift an arms embargo on Syria that would allow for arming the SNC military wing in Syria. Informal talks on this controversial step got underway in Dublin, Ireland, on Friday where EU Foreign Ministers are meeting for two days. The SNC is also to attend the Arab League summit in Doha March 26-27 and is seeking to assume the official Syrian representation at the Arab League, where Syria has been suspended for some time.