Cables released by Wikileaks have revealed that the US has been financing the Syrian oppsition. <br /><br />The reports claim the US State Department has given at least $6 million for anti-government programmes in Syria. The money was allegedly given to the Movement for Justice and Development, which is a Syrian opposition group based in London. Reformist satellite channel Barada TV is also said to have also received funding.<br /><br />This all comes as 20,000 demonstrators gathered in Homs demanding Bashar al-Assad step down - a move his government claimed amounted to "armed insurrection".<br /><br />Demonstrators claim troops loyal to al-Assad opened fire in an attempt to disperse the crowd forcibly. <br /><br />Inside Story, with presenter Dareen Abughaida, discusses with guests: Nadim Shehade, from the Middle East Programme at Chatham House; and Malik al-Abdeh, a memeber of the Syrian Movement for Justice and Development, also editor-in-chief of Barada TV.<br /><br />This episode of Inside Story aired on Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
