PARIS (AP) — France's interior minister says authorities are increasing security for Syrian opposition members based here who have come under threat in recent days. Claude Gueant did not specify the nature of the threats or of the new security measures. Speaking to reporters in Paris on Friday, he said the measures would affect members of the Syrian National Council. That would include the opposition council's Paris-based leader, Burhan Ghalioun. France has strongly endorsed the council and holds a tough diplomatic line against the deadly crackdown by Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime on an anti-government uprising. The U.N. estimates the regime's suppression has led to more than 4,000 deaths.
