A respected U.S. newspaper claims Washington has been secretly financing the Syrian opposition, just as reports emerged of more deadly clashes between Syrian forces and antigovernment protesters.

The Washington Post reported on April 18 that the U.S. Department of State had funneled about $6 million to Syrian opposition circles since 2006, much of which was used to run the London-based satellite channel Barada TV.

Barada TV began broadcasting in April 2009 but recently expanded its operations to cover the mass protests against President Bashar al-Assad that erupted last month in Syria.

Citing previously undisclosed diplomatic cables provided by WikiLeaks, The Washington Post said the first funds for the Syrian opposition were transferred under President George W. Bush after the United States froze its ties with Damascus in 2005.

The money reportedly continued to flow under current President Barack Obama despite his administration's efforts to repair ties with Assad.

According to the newspaper, it is unclear whether the United States now still funds Syrian opposition groups. The article cites a diplomatic cable signed by the top-ranking U.S. diplomat in Damascus at the time warning that Syrian authorities "would undoubtedly view any U.S. funds going to illegal political groups as tantamount to supporting regime change."

The article said the U.S. Department of State had declined to comment on the authenticity of the leaked cables or its alleged funding of Barada TV, according to RFE/RL.