American CIA operatives have allegedly been distributing arms among various opposition groups in Syria via a clandestine network of go-betweens in southern Turkey.

According to Zaman newspaper, the opposition fighters are getting assault rifles, anti-tank rocket launchers and other weapons paid for by Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

A source in the Turkish government told the newspaper that Ankara was in no way engaged in such activity.

The paper says the CIA oversees arms supplies to Syria for fear that the weapons might end up in the hands of terrorist groups, including al-Qaida.