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Syria opposition upbeat on unity talks Syria National Council to decide on unity leadership
(about 5 hours later)
Representatives of Syria's opposition say they have made progress towards forming a new leadership body.  
They say they hope to reach an agreement on the second day of a meeting in Doha. The Syrian National Council is facing a key decision on whether to join other groups in a more unified opposition.
Western and Gulf states have been pushing disparate opposition groups to unify as they try to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian National Initiative aims to merge the disparate military and political groups to form a credible alternative to the Assad government.
Meanwhile, UN agencies are to discuss the aid operation in Syria, with access for aid workers top of the agenda. Western and Gulf states have been pushing for such a body, which would act as a conduit for humanitarian - and possibly military - aid.
The sixth meeting of the Syrian humanitarian forum, which brings together UN aid agencies and member states, will be held in Geneva. Meanwhile, UN agencies are in Geneva to discuss the aid operation in Syria.
Improving access for aid workers will be top of the agenda at the sixth meeting of the Syrian humanitarian forum, which brings together UN aid agencies and member states.
The Syrian government has strictly limited the presence of foreign aid agencies.The Syrian government has strictly limited the presence of foreign aid agencies.
The uprising against President Assad's rule has become increasingly violent since it began in March last year.The uprising against President Assad's rule has become increasingly violent since it began in March last year.
Activists estimate that more than 35,000 people have lost their lives. The UN says some 1.2 million Syrians have been displaced, and more than two million are in need of aid.Activists estimate that more than 35,000 people have lost their lives. The UN says some 1.2 million Syrians have been displaced, and more than two million are in need of aid.
'Failure forbidden''Failure forbidden'
The opposition meeting in Doha is taking place under the auspices of the Arab League, with Western powers from the international Friends of Syria group also attending. The opposition meeting is taking place in the Qatari capital, Doha, under the auspices of the Arab League, with Western powers from the international Friends of Syria group also attending.
The aim is to produce a unified, credible opposition leadership rooted inside Syria, which would then be recognised by the Friends of Syria. So far, the Syrian National Council, itself an umbrella group, has been the most prominent opposition, but it has failed to produce a united front in the bid to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
So far, the Syrian National Council has been the most prominent opposition group, but it has failed to produce a united front. It has also been criticised for the fact its members are largely based outside Syria.
The Syrian National Initiative, proposed by prominent dissident Riad Seif, would supplant the SNC and bring together Syria's exiled and internal opposition, allowing it to become the conduit for foreign assistance.
The US has said it wants to set up a broader opposition leadership council in which the SNC's influence is diluted.The US has said it wants to set up a broader opposition leadership council in which the SNC's influence is diluted.
The BBC's Jim Muir reports from Doha that the SNC is wary of signing up as a minority element in a new leadership, without clear guarantees that the new body will be given the kind of support needed to tilt the balance against the regime. href="http://carnegie-mec.org/publications/?fa=49872" >The Syrian National Initiative, proposed by prominent dissident Riad Seif, would supplant the Council and bring together Syria's exiled and internal opposition, allowing it to become the conduit for foreign assistance.
But the BBC's Jim Muir, in Doha, says the SNC is wary of signing up as a minority element in a new leadership, without clear guarantees that the new body will be given the kind of support needed to tilt the balance against the regime.
The SNC, which has been holding its own talks in Doha all week, will elect a new executive and president on Friday morning, before deciding whether to back the initiative.
If it does not, says our correspondent, it risks being heavily blamed for pursuing its own interests above those of the people.
Such a move would open a stark rift in the opposition, he adds, especially between "insiders" who are strongly represented in the new leadership plan, and those who have been in exile for years.
Mr Seif said opposition leaders had made progress on the first day of talks, and that some SNC members had indicated their acceptance of a plan to set up a new leadership group composed of 60 members.Mr Seif said opposition leaders had made progress on the first day of talks, and that some SNC members had indicated their acceptance of a plan to set up a new leadership group composed of 60 members.
Veteran opposition figure Haytham al-Maleh told AFP news agency: "We hope we can reach an agreement [on Friday] after the Syrian National Council has succeeded in selecting a new leadership."Veteran opposition figure Haytham al-Maleh told AFP news agency: "We hope we can reach an agreement [on Friday] after the Syrian National Council has succeeded in selecting a new leadership."
Burhan Ghalioun, ex-leader of the SNC outside Syria, said the atmosphere was "positive" and that failure was "forbidden".Burhan Ghalioun, ex-leader of the SNC outside Syria, said the atmosphere was "positive" and that failure was "forbidden".
'Getting worse''Getting worse'
The meeting on aid access in Geneva comes after the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it could not cope with the growing needs in Syria.The meeting on aid access in Geneva comes after the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it could not cope with the growing needs in Syria.
There are currently "a lot of blank spots", and an unknown number of people were not getting access to the aid they needed, said Peter Maurer.There are currently "a lot of blank spots", and an unknown number of people were not getting access to the aid they needed, said Peter Maurer.
The ICRC has not been able to get to certain parts of the country, he added, giving as an example the city of Aleppo, which has been badly hit by violence in recent months.The ICRC has not been able to get to certain parts of the country, he added, giving as an example the city of Aleppo, which has been badly hit by violence in recent months.
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Geneva that Syrian diplomats are expected to attend the UN meeting, where they will be asked to help speed up visas for foreign aid workers,The BBC's Imogen Foulkes reports from Geneva that Syrian diplomats are expected to attend the UN meeting, where they will be asked to help speed up visas for foreign aid workers,
So far this has been a slow process, she says, with UN aid agencies like the World Food Programme relying on the Syrian Red Crescent to distribute food.So far this has been a slow process, she says, with UN aid agencies like the World Food Programme relying on the Syrian Red Crescent to distribute food.
The UN is sceptical of claims by a Syrian medical group that most aid is being diverted to government forces, but aid officials would still like to assess the situation for themselves, our correspondent adds.The UN is sceptical of claims by a Syrian medical group that most aid is being diverted to government forces, but aid officials would still like to assess the situation for themselves, our correspondent adds.