German FM warns Syria leader, Europe will not fund Islamist rule

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned Syria's new leaders Friday not to establish an Islamist government after the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad last month.

"Europe will support" Syria in its transition "but Europe will not finance new Islamist structures," Baerbock told reporters at the end of a visit to Syria. Baerbock was visiting the Syrian capital Damascus together with her French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in the highest-level visit by major Western powers since Islamist-led rebels seized power last month.