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Syria unrest: Divided opposition seeks 'national pact' | Syria unrest: Divided opposition seeks 'national pact' |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Syria's divided opposition groups are meeting in Istanbul to try to achieve a more united front in their efforts to oust President Bashar al-Assad. | Syria's divided opposition groups are meeting in Istanbul to try to achieve a more united front in their efforts to oust President Bashar al-Assad. |
The main opposition coalition, the Syrian National Council (SNC), wants a "national pact" of common objectives. | |
The Arab League and Turkey want the opposition to unite before next week's "Friends of Syria" summit in the city. | The Arab League and Turkey want the opposition to unite before next week's "Friends of Syria" summit in the city. |
Meanwhile, the Arab League and UN envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan, has said the crisis cannot be allowed to "drag on". | |
"It is not practical to put forth timetables and timelines when you haven't got agreement from the parties," Mr Annan told reporters in Moscow. | |
"This cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely and as I have told the parties on the ground, they cannot resist the transformational winds that are blowing." | |
Mr Annan's spokesman also said the Syrian government had responded to his six-point peace plan - which aims to end the violence, secure humanitarian aid and launch political dialogue between the government and opposition groups - and that he would "respond very shortly". | |
After meeting the former UN secretary general on Sunday, President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia fully supported to his mission because it might be "Syria's last chance to avoid a protracted and bloody civil war". | |
Mr Annan is due to travel on Tuesday to China, which along with Russia has vetoed two UN Security Council resolutions condemning the violence. | |
"China values and supports the mediation efforts of Mr Annan and hopes this visit will allow in-depth discussions on a political resolution of the Syrian issue," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Monday. | |
'Unified vision' | 'Unified vision' |
The SNC said the aim of the meeting in Istanbul was to produce a "national pact for a New Syria" to group "the common objectives of the Syrian opposition to end the regime's dictatorship and realise the final objective of establishing a pluralist civil and democratic state". | The SNC said the aim of the meeting in Istanbul was to produce a "national pact for a New Syria" to group "the common objectives of the Syrian opposition to end the regime's dictatorship and realise the final objective of establishing a pluralist civil and democratic state". |
The meeting was "a true opportunity to prove that all of the components of the opposition have the same objectives", the SNC added. | The meeting was "a true opportunity to prove that all of the components of the opposition have the same objectives", the SNC added. |
SNC member Mohammed al-Sarmini told the AFP news agency that all factions and members of the opposition were invited. | SNC member Mohammed al-Sarmini told the AFP news agency that all factions and members of the opposition were invited. |
Katherine al-Talli, a human rights lawyer who was one of five prominent SNC members who resigned earlier this month and formed the Syrian Patriotic Front, said she would attend. | Katherine al-Talli, a human rights lawyer who was one of five prominent SNC members who resigned earlier this month and formed the Syrian Patriotic Front, said she would attend. |
But the rival National Co-ordination Committee (NCC) said it would not. | But the rival National Co-ordination Committee (NCC) said it would not. |
The chairman of the Syrian National Conference for Change, Ammar al-Qurabi, said that while he welcomed the idea of a "unified vision", it would not be "under the umbrella of the Syrian National Council". | The chairman of the Syrian National Conference for Change, Ammar al-Qurabi, said that while he welcomed the idea of a "unified vision", it would not be "under the umbrella of the Syrian National Council". |
Turkey and Qatar, which holds the rotating chair of the Arab League, had invited the opposition to gather in Istanbul to discuss visions for a free and democratic Syria and agree on a set of shared principles for a peaceful transition. | Turkey and Qatar, which holds the rotating chair of the Arab League, had invited the opposition to gather in Istanbul to discuss visions for a free and democratic Syria and agree on a set of shared principles for a peaceful transition. |
Western and Arab leaders are due to attend the second "Friends of Syria" meeting on 1 April to discuss what they can do to stop the crackdown on dissent. | Western and Arab leaders are due to attend the second "Friends of Syria" meeting on 1 April to discuss what they can do to stop the crackdown on dissent. |
The BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul says they need a credible and coherent opposition movement they can deal with if they are to achieve more than the previous meeting in Tunis, which was widely viewed as a failure. | |
On Sunday, an unnamed White House official said the US and Turkey had agreed to provide "non-lethal" assistance, like communications equipment and medical supplies, directly to Syrian opposition groups. | On Sunday, an unnamed White House official said the US and Turkey had agreed to provide "non-lethal" assistance, like communications equipment and medical supplies, directly to Syrian opposition groups. |
Travel restrictions | |
Activists said on Monday that security forces had again been bombarding the central city of Homs, a focus of anti-government unrest. | |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least five civilians had been killed by mortar rounds in the northern district of Khaldiya. | |
"Every day the shelling goes on. The regime is wiping out the city," Walid Faris, an activist in Homs, told the Reuters news agency. | |
Turkey also suspended all activities at its embassy in Damascus, a week after its foreign ministry called on all Turkish citizens to leave Syria. | |
Norway said it was also shutting its embassy for security reasons. | |
State media meanwhile reported that border guards had clashed with a group of "terrorists" trying to enter the north-western province of Idlib from Turkey, killing and wounding a number of them. | |
Restrictions have also been placed on men of military age - 18 to 42 - trying to leave Syria, officials told the Reuters news agency. They must now get permission from military recruitment and immigration departments before travelling. | |
The United Nations says more than 8,000 people have been killed since pro-democracy protests erupted in Syria a year ago. | The United Nations says more than 8,000 people have been killed since pro-democracy protests erupted in Syria a year ago. |
The Syrian government has blamed the violence on "armed terrorist gangs" and says more than 2,500 civilians and 1,300 security forces personnel have died. | The Syrian government has blamed the violence on "armed terrorist gangs" and says more than 2,500 civilians and 1,300 security forces personnel have died. |