Hollande reaffirms support to Syrian opposition

French President Francois Hollande on Thursday reiterated France's full support to the Syrian opposition after meeting with one of Syria's main opposition leaders, French channel BFM TV reported. "I reiterated the full support of France to the opposition" of Syria, Hollande said to reporters at a joint press briefing with Ahmad al-Jarba, president of the Syrian National Coalition (SNC). Hollande said "everything must be done" to find a political solution to the crisis in the country. But he stressed this could "only happen if the coalition is able to appear as alternative with the necessary force, notably from its army." He urged the international community to "put a temporary stop to this escalation of violence." French defense ministry spokesman Pierre Bayle told the BFM TV that the French army was "in position to respond the demands of the president" if he decides to make a military intervention in Syria.