In a recent audio record, Abu Mohammad al-Julani stressed that he opposes parliamentary elections or any political settlement in the country which would be achieved through international consultation.

Al-Nusra Front several months ago pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri and has been blacklisted by the United States and the United Nations as a terrorist group.

However, a senior figure in the western-backed so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) told the A-Sharq Al-Awsat newspaper this week that the al-Qaeda terrorist organization is set to officially announce an independent state in northern Syria.

Members of al-Nusra and other Syrian terrorist groups have committed atrocities during the Syrian unrest.

The conflict in Syria started in March 2011, when pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following the intervention of Western and regional states.

The unrest, which took in terrorist groups from across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, has transpired as one of the bloodiest conflicts in recent history.

As the foreign-backed insurgency in Syria continues without an end in sight, the US government has boosted its political and military support to Takfiri extremists.

Washington has remained indifferent about warnings by Russia and other world powers about the consequences of arming militant groups.

NTJ/BA