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Syrian opposition unveils council names | Syrian opposition unveils council names |
(40 minutes later) | |
Members of Syria's opposition groups have chosen 140 people to form a "national council" after a meeting held in Turkey. | Members of Syria's opposition groups have chosen 140 people to form a "national council" after a meeting held in Turkey. |
The council aims to organise and give a public face to protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | The council aims to organise and give a public face to protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. |
It will also aim to co-ordinate the opposition's policies against the Syrian leadership. | It will also aim to co-ordinate the opposition's policies against the Syrian leadership. |
Turkey used to be a close ally of Syria, but has recently joined calls for Mr Assad to implement reforms. | Turkey used to be a close ally of Syria, but has recently joined calls for Mr Assad to implement reforms. |
At the meeting, 70 names were read out from a list of 140, as at least some of the rest cannot be named, possibly because they are inside Syria, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul. | At the meeting, 70 names were read out from a list of 140, as at least some of the rest cannot be named, possibly because they are inside Syria, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul. |
Others are in exile. | Others are in exile. |
The opposition groups seem to have finally agreed to what is effectively an embryonic Syrian national assembly, says our correspondent. | The opposition groups seem to have finally agreed to what is effectively an embryonic Syrian national assembly, says our correspondent. |
For the first time, it has the full backing of all opposition groups inside and outside the country, and will now represent the opposition, he adds. | For the first time, it has the full backing of all opposition groups inside and outside the country, and will now represent the opposition, he adds. |
Continuing violence | Continuing violence |
An opposition spokeswoman, Basma Qadmani, said: "After completing the first level of consultative meetings, groups of revolutionary youth, political movements and personalities, activists and technocrats decided to found the Syrian National Council." | An opposition spokeswoman, Basma Qadmani, said: "After completing the first level of consultative meetings, groups of revolutionary youth, political movements and personalities, activists and technocrats decided to found the Syrian National Council." |
The contrast with Libya is striking. There, the National Transitional Council was set up just two weeks after the uprising in Benghazi. | |
But conditions in Syria are far more challenging. At no time has the opposition been able to take control of a part of the country, as it did in Libya. | |
There was nowhere inside the country where a single opposition body could have been set up. | |
This time, say the organisers, lessons have been learned, and the new national council does enjoy the support of every significant dissident group. | |
Yasser Tabbara, another member of the council, said it had not yet elected a president. | Yasser Tabbara, another member of the council, said it had not yet elected a president. |
"We are in a democratic process. This is an inaugural meeting," he told the AFP news agency. | "We are in a democratic process. This is an inaugural meeting," he told the AFP news agency. |
An activist told the BBC that representatives from Syrian minorities were included, in response to their growing concern over what might happen after the ousting of President Assad, who is a member of the minority Alawite community. | An activist told the BBC that representatives from Syrian minorities were included, in response to their growing concern over what might happen after the ousting of President Assad, who is a member of the minority Alawite community. |
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul says the council will inevitably draw comparisons with the National Transitional Council in Libya. | |
However, the challenge confronting Syrian dissidents is much greater, he says, as they have no liberated areas inside Syria and there are open differences between the various opposition forces. | |
On Wednesday, Syrian security forces were reported to have launched a new operation against opponents of Mr Assad's regime in the north-west of the country. | On Wednesday, Syrian security forces were reported to have launched a new operation against opponents of Mr Assad's regime in the north-west of the country. |
Foreign reporters are not being allowed in to Syria so news organisations are largely dependent on unverified amateur video and reports by rights groups. | Foreign reporters are not being allowed in to Syria so news organisations are largely dependent on unverified amateur video and reports by rights groups. |
According to the UN, more than 2,200 people have been killed in Syria since anti-government protests began more than five months ago. | According to the UN, more than 2,200 people have been killed in Syria since anti-government protests began more than five months ago. |
The government says hundreds of its personnel have been killed. | The government says hundreds of its personnel have been killed. |
The international community has urged the Syrian president to stop targeting civilians. | The international community has urged the Syrian president to stop targeting civilians. |
The government insists that it has a political reform programme in place, but opposition leaders say there can be no free and fair elections while the ruling Baath party is in power. | The government insists that it has a political reform programme in place, but opposition leaders say there can be no free and fair elections while the ruling Baath party is in power. |
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