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Syrian National Council holds congress in Tunisia Syria crisis: Iraq's Falah al-Fayadh in mediation bid
(about 4 hours later)
The Syrian National Council, a coalition of groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, is holding its first congress in Tunisia. An Iraqi delegation led by National Security adviser Falah al-Fayadh is in Syria attempting to mediate an end to the violence there.
About 200 members of the SNC are meeting near the capital Tunis in a bid to further unify the Syrian opposition. The group is trying to broker a deal based on Arab League peace proposals, and says it is in touch with Syria's opposition as well as its government.
Correspondents say delegates hope the council will emerge looking more like a government-in-waiting. The visit comes as Syria's main opposition group meets in Tunisia.
Earlier, thousands of anti-government protesters again took to the streets across Syria following Friday prayers. The Syrian National Council is trying to present itself as a government in waiting set to replace Bashar al-Assad.
Activists said at least six people had been killed by security forces in the central city of Homs, which has become a focal point for unrest. Pressure is mounting on the Syrian president to end the violence that the UN says has taken more than 5,000 lives since March.
"We need to unite the opposition and make it stronger," SNC leader Burhan Ghalioun told AFP news agency. Widespread anti-government protests encouraged by the Arab Spring triggered a harsh crackdown that has brought regional and international condemnation.
"We need to emerge from this congress with a higher level of organisation, clearer targets and more momentum." But after months of bloodshed and no sign of the regime falling, some Syrians have taken up arms in a bid to remove President Assad.
Limited contact 'Clearer targets'
The congress, in the resort of Gammarth north of Tunis, opened on Friday evening and runs until Sunday. The Arab League is considering how to deal with Syria's failure so far to accept without qualification its own peace plan which includes the deployment of hundreds of outside observers to monitor an end to the violence.
The formation of the SNC was formally announced in Istanbul in the Turkish city of Istanbul in September. Although the league suspended Syria's membership last month, it has been divided over whether to impose sanctions. Iraq did not vote in favour of economic sanctions earlier this month.
However, its leaders are mostly exiled intellectuals who have limited contact with those organising resistance inside Syria, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul. Iraq may appear an unlikely mediator, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad, as its Shia-led government has largely sided with President Assad, though many in Iraq's Sunni minority may have other sympathies.
It is unlikely the Iraqi delegation would be visiting Damascus without at least the tacit approval of Syria's strategic neighbour Iran, says our correspondent.
The Iraqis also appear to think they have US support for the attempt, adds our correspondent, with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Mr Fayadh having just returned from talks in Washington.
Some recent Syrian protests have criticised the regional body for extending a deadline it has given Damascus to end the crackdown and agree to an observer mission.
There has also been anger that the league cancelled a meeting of foreign ministers due to debate Syria on Saturday.
Alliance vs Council?
Some 200 members of the Syrian National Council are meeting in the resort of Gammarth north of Tunis in a bid to further unify the Syrian opposition.
The opposition in Syria has proved remarkably resilient in the face of the heavy firepower used by the Syrian authorities - but it lacks clear leadership.The opposition in Syria has proved remarkably resilient in the face of the heavy firepower used by the Syrian authorities - but it lacks clear leadership.
This was supposed to be provided by the Syrian National Council, which was established in Istanbul in September - but the council's leaders are mostly intellectuals in exile who have limited contact with those organising resistance inside Syria.This was supposed to be provided by the Syrian National Council, which was established in Istanbul in September - but the council's leaders are mostly intellectuals in exile who have limited contact with those organising resistance inside Syria.
They hope that their first congress this weekend will produce a much clearer agreed strategy.They hope that their first congress this weekend will produce a much clearer agreed strategy.
Concern over the readiness of the opposition to take over from President Assad is one factor holding some countries back from endorsing international intervention in Syria.Concern over the readiness of the opposition to take over from President Assad is one factor holding some countries back from endorsing international intervention in Syria.
Fittingly, this congress is being held on the first anniversary of the Arab uprisings, in Tunisia, where they began.Fittingly, this congress is being held on the first anniversary of the Arab uprisings, in Tunisia, where they began.
Widespread anti-government protests encouraged by the Arab Spring began in Syria in March and triggered a harsh crackdown that has brought regional and international condemnation. "We need to emerge from this congress with a higher level of organisation, clearer targets and more momentum," said SNC leader Burhan Ghalioun.
But after months of bloodshed and no sign of the regime falling, some Syrians have taken up arms in a bid to remove President Assad. The congress opened on Friday evening and runs until Sunday.
The formation of the SNC was formally announced in Istanbul in the Turkish city of Istanbul in September, but its leaders are mostly exiled intellectuals who have limited contact with those organising resistance inside Syria.
Earlier this month, the SNC said it had agreed to co-ordinate action with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), largely made up of renegade soldiers.Earlier this month, the SNC said it had agreed to co-ordinate action with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), largely made up of renegade soldiers.
The council said the FSA had agreed to reduce attacks on government forces.The council said the FSA had agreed to reduce attacks on government forces.
Our correspondent says that events inside Syria may outpace whatever the exiled opposition leaders decide, as armed members of the opposition mount increasingly bold attacks. Analysts say the SNC may face a challenge from another opposition grouping, the National Alliance, which was formed in Istanbul on Thursday.
Analysts say the SNC may also face a challenge from another opposition grouping, the National Alliance, which was formed in Istanbul on Thursday.
Foreign correspondents are largely banned from the country, making it difficult to confirm accounts of the unrest.Foreign correspondents are largely banned from the country, making it difficult to confirm accounts of the unrest.
But reports on Friday said that the Arab League came in for criticism during the mass protests.
Although the league suspended Syria's membership last month, it has been divided over whether to impose sanctions.
Many protesters called on the regional body to stop extending a deadline it has given Damascus to end the crackdown and agree to an observer mission.
There was also anger that the league had cancelled a meeting of foreign ministers due to debate Syria on Saturday.
The UN says the Syrian authorities have killed more than 5,000 people since pro-democracy demonstrations began.
President Assad has denied ordering security forces to attack peaceful protesters, and says the violence is being orchestrated by armed gangs.President Assad has denied ordering security forces to attack peaceful protesters, and says the violence is being orchestrated by armed gangs.