WASHINGTON -- In an apparent bid to isolate Islamist extremists and bolster a new Western-backed Syrian opposition alliance, the United States is moving to declare one of the most effective Syrian rebel groups a foreign terrorist organization because of its alleged ties to al Qaeda.
The State Department originally planned to add the Nusra Front -- Jabhat al Nusra in Arabic -- to its list of international terrorist groups this week, McClatchy Newspapers learned.
The announcement was postponed, however, as officials discussed how to get the maximum impact from the designation.
