Syria's main western-backed opposition group has slammed al Qaida-linked gunmen and their expanding influence in the country, saying the jihadis seek to establish an Islamic state.

A statement from the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) follows days of vicious infighting in which the extremists seized control of the northern town of Azaz from mainstream opposition fighters.

The SNC says the actions of the al Qaida-linked fighters "counter the principles that the Syrian revolution is trying to achieve".

The group also warns that the Islamic fighters are "strengthening their positions" in opposition-controlled areas.

The infighting threatens to further split opposition forces outgunned by President Bashar Assad's troops and strengthen his hand as he engages with world powers on relinquishing his chemical weapons.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.