The Syrian opposition called for "real support" and not just recognition on Wednesday, Dec 12, hours after the U.S. declared its new coalition was the "legitimate representative" of its country's people, The Associated Press reported.

Speaking as the fourth meeting of the "Friends of the Syrian People" opened in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, opposition spokesman Walid al-Bunni called on the more than a hundred delegates from Europe and the Gulf countries to provide something concrete to help in their nearly two-year battle against Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

"Recognition is nice, but we need real support," said al-Bunni, of the newly formed Syrian National Coalition, as the conference began. "I will be happy after the conference if we have something for the Syrian people."

The Syrian National Coalition, formed in November during a conference in Doha, Qatar, has been calling for increased international support, including military material.

"We need not only bread to help our people," opposition member Saleem Abdul Aziz al Meslet told the AP. "We need support for our Syrian army — we need to speed up things and get rid of this regime."

The U.S. move, announced by President Barack Obama late Tuesday, follows that of France and the UK.

Syria on Wednesday denounced the decision, saying the opposition's only tactic is terrorism and recognizing it "hinders all international efforts aiming to solve the crisis in Syria through dialogue."

The U.S. and EU are not expected to approve military aid, in part over fears of al-Qaida linked rebel units operating in the country. There is currently an EU arms embargo on Syria which according to Foreign Secretary William Hague will next be discussed on March 1, saying "for the moment it stays in place."

There are also no representatives of the Syrian rebel forces at the conference.