Rudd attacks Abbott over Syria position AUSTRALIA would be at odds with its allies if it dropped support for the Syrian national coalition, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, who polls suggest is on track to win Saturday's federal election, has described the Syrian conflict as a battle between "two pretty much equally unsavoury sides." He also said the Syrian opposition included "quite a number of elements that are highly influenced by al-Qaeda." Mr Rudd told reporters in Devonport on Tuesday that Mr Abbott had made a "fundamental error of judgment." "The Syrian national coalition is recognised by the government of Australia and by the US and UK, the European Union and 80 countries around the world as representing the legitimate voice of the Syrian people," he said. If on Sunday Mr Abbott is elected as prime minister, is he going to tell our ambassador in the United Nations he is going to withdraw diplomatic recognition of the Syrian national coalition? That is the logical consequence of him saying they are as bad as the Assad regime. Mr Rudd said the Syrian national coalition had nothing to do with terrorist groups. "What we are talking about is a fundamental error of foreign policy judgment, of national security judgment, by a person who wants to be prime minister," he said. On Sunday Mr Abbott described the Syrian conflict as a case of "baddies versus baddies."