In a message she posted on Twitter, Sheikha Hind bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani stated that the backing of the militants was a ‘scandal in the history of Qatar.’

She also denounced the atrocities committed by the militants and said the armed groups had committed crimes against the Syrian people - an apparent reference to gruesome videos recently published on the Internet showing militants torturing and killing Syrian soldiers and people.

The Qatari princess also slammed the intervention of militants from Saudi Arabia in Syria and their ‘execution of Syrian citizens.’

Turmoil has gripped Syria since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of Syrian security forces, have been killed in the unrest.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on May 18 that militants from 29 different countries were fighting against the government in different parts of the country.