A Syria-based opposition figure said Tuesday that the exiled opposition and their Western backers are serious about purchasing the Syrian crude oil from rebel- controlled areas in northern and eastern Syria with a purpose of dividing the Syrian territories.

Maher Merhej, leader of the Damascus-based National Youth Party, told Xinhua he had reached the conclusion after his recent meeting in Turkey with a number of Syrian National Coalition (SNC) members in exile.

Merhej said he was assured that the coalition and the Western countries were "completely serious on the highest levels" about the move.

A day earlier, the European Union (EU) eased certain sanctions against Syria, including the oil embargo, so as to "help the civilian population" and support the opposition in the conflict- ravaged country.

According to a statement issued by the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, the 27-member bloc gave green light to three types of transactions: imports of oil and petroleum products, exports of key equipment and technology for the oil and gas industry to Syria, as well as investments in the Syrian oil industry.

The EU asked the Syrian authorities to consult with the exiled SNC before approving any such transactions, and to ensure that the transactions do not circumvent EU sanctions against Syria, in particular the asset freezes on those people associated with the violence in Syria.

The EU import ban on Syrian oil and petroleum products was imposed in September 2011.

Merhej stressed that the Western powers called on the coalition to hurry to form an interim government in a bid to run the business of selling Syria's crude oil.

The West plans to set up new pipelines from northern and eastern Syria into Turkey at the Iskenderun hub in the province of Hatay on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, he said, pointing out that such a step aims at "eliminating all political solution and also setting a stage for dividing Syria."

The move totally infringes upon the sovereignty of Syria, he said.

As for Jordan's fresh meddling in Syria's crisis, Merhej said the Western-backed country is "involved because it has no independent decision."

He said anti-Syrian administration powers want to establish two parts of the armed rebels: one in the north near the borders with Turkey, the other in the south close to the Jordanian borders.

The Syrian troops have taken all precautions and are fully capable of defending Syria, he said, reiterating that such development on the Jordanian border will only further complicate the crisis.

Meanwhile, commenting on a recent escalation on the Lebanese side, Merhej said it aims at plunging the region into a sectarian conflict.

The Salafi groups in northern Lebanon announced Monday a " general mobilization" for Sunni people to partake in the "war" in Syria against the government troops and Shiite members of Hezbollah, who back Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Officials from Damascus have recently dismissed the exiled opposition's claims that members of Hezbollah are fighting by the government troops' side in central al-Qussair area near the Lebanese borders.

Syria has been witnessing violence since March 2011, with deadly clashes between government forces and rebel fighters that have left thousands dead. Endi

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