Syrian dissident says war 'over' as states cut aid to rebels

[TomSea]

Syrian dissident says war 'over' as states cut aid to rebels

 By Ellen Francis | BEIRUT

A prominent Syrian dissident said on Friday he believed the country's war was effectively over, as foreign governments have cut support to rebels fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

Louay Hussein said Russian-backed diplomacy had "launched a new path" towards ending the conflict, which is nearing its sixth anniversary having killed hundreds of thousands of people and shattered Syria into a patchwork of territories controlled by different armed groups.

"The armed conflict for the state is over," said Hussein, 57, a longtime pillar of Syria's internal Damascus-based opposition, seen by critics as aligned with the government.

Continued: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-dissident-idUSKBN15P2B4