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| Syria unrest: Divided opposition seeks 'national pact' | Syria unrest: Divided opposition seeks 'national pact' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Syria's divided opposition groups are due to meet in Turkey to try to draw up a "national pact" on how to unseat President Bashar al-Assad's government. | |
| The main opposition coalition, the Syrian National Council (SNC), says all other anti-Assad groups have been invited to the gathering in Istanbul. | The main opposition coalition, the Syrian National Council (SNC), says all other anti-Assad groups have been invited to the gathering in Istanbul. |
| The opposition has been weakened by internal disputes, losing support of many Syrians fighting the government. | The opposition has been weakened by internal disputes, losing support of many Syrians fighting the government. |
| Russia has said it backs UN envoy Kofi Annan's peace mission in Syria. | Russia has said it backs UN envoy Kofi Annan's peace mission in Syria. |
| During talks in Moscow, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said it may be the last chance to avoid a "prolonged and bloody civil war" in Syria. | During talks in Moscow, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said it may be the last chance to avoid a "prolonged and bloody civil war" in Syria. |
| He also urged Mr Annan, the United Nations and African Union envoy to Syria, to work with both Damascus and the opposition to end the violence. | He also urged Mr Annan, the United Nations and African Union envoy to Syria, to work with both Damascus and the opposition to end the violence. |
| Mr Annan has proposed a six-point peace plan, which calls on government forces to immediately halt the use of heavy weapons in populated areas. He also wants the armed rebels to halt their attacks. | Mr Annan has proposed a six-point peace plan, which calls on government forces to immediately halt the use of heavy weapons in populated areas. He also wants the armed rebels to halt their attacks. |
| Mr Annan will later go to China. | Mr Annan will later go to China. |
| Russia has vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions on the crisis in Syria, but last week, with China, supported a UN statement on the Annan mission. | Russia has vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions on the crisis in Syria, but last week, with China, supported a UN statement on the Annan mission. |
| Clashes continued across Syria on Sunday, with Human Rights Watch accusing government forces of using civilians as human shields. | Clashes continued across Syria on Sunday, with Human Rights Watch accusing government forces of using civilians as human shields. |
| Activists reported further bombardments and casualties in the Homs area, killing at least five people. | Activists reported further bombardments and casualties in the Homs area, killing at least five people. |
| Shelling was also reported in Hama, and tanks were seen in the streets of the southern town of Nawa, the Local Coordination Committees said. | Shelling was also reported in Hama, and tanks were seen in the streets of the southern town of Nawa, the Local Coordination Committees said. |
| More than 50 people were reported to have been killed in shelling or shooting by the security forces on Saturday, many of them in Homs. | More than 50 people were reported to have been killed in shelling or shooting by the security forces on Saturday, many of them in Homs. |
| The UN says the conflict has cost more than 8,000 lives since it began a year. | The UN says the conflict has cost more than 8,000 lives since it began a year. |
| The Syrian government blames violence on "armed terrorist gangs" and says some 3,000 members of the security forces have been killed. | The Syrian government blames violence on "armed terrorist gangs" and says some 3,000 members of the security forces have been killed. |
| Foreign media face severe restrictions on reporting in Syria, and it is hard to verify the claims of either side. | Foreign media face severe restrictions on reporting in Syria, and it is hard to verify the claims of either side. |
| Frustration | Frustration |
| The SNC says it wants to hammer out a pact of shared objectives with all opposition groups - including those that have recently broken away from the council - during the two-day meeting in Istanbul. | The SNC says it wants to hammer out a pact of shared objectives with all opposition groups - including those that have recently broken away from the council - during the two-day meeting in Istanbul. |
| Officially, the US, the EU and many countries in the Middle East recognise the SNC, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul reports. | Officially, the US, the EU and many countries in the Middle East recognise the SNC, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul reports. |
| In practice, however, the SNC's failure to maintain the support of many anti-Assad activists is a source of frustration, and one reason that few countries are willing to start arming the opposition, our correspondent says. | In practice, however, the SNC's failure to maintain the support of many anti-Assad activists is a source of frustration, and one reason that few countries are willing to start arming the opposition, our correspondent says. |
| To achieve the unity, he adds, there should be a substantial change in the SNC's leadership, as Paris-based chairman Burhan Ghalioun and his allies have been repeatedly criticised - even by other SNC members. | To achieve the unity, he adds, there should be a substantial change in the SNC's leadership, as Paris-based chairman Burhan Ghalioun and his allies have been repeatedly criticised - even by other SNC members. |
| The meeting comes as the opposition Free Syrian Army and a rival military council have announced that they will work together to co-ordinate all military activity against the Syrian government. | The meeting comes as the opposition Free Syrian Army and a rival military council have announced that they will work together to co-ordinate all military activity against the Syrian government. |
| It also comes ahead of the "Friends of Syria" gathering on 1 April - also in Istanbul. | It also comes ahead of the "Friends of Syria" gathering on 1 April - also in Istanbul. |
| So, creating a more credible opposition movement is an urgent priority if anti-Assad activists are to win more than the token support they have had so far, our correspondent says. | So, creating a more credible opposition movement is an urgent priority if anti-Assad activists are to win more than the token support they have had so far, our correspondent says. |