TURKEY: Syria's exiled opposition seeks unity

Record ID: 276196

  • Title: TURKEY: Syria's exiled opposition seeks unity
  • Date: 13th September 2011
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (SEPTEMBER 12, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SPOKESPERSON FOR SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL PREPARATION COMMITTEE BASMA QADMANI TALKING TO JOURNALISTS JOURNALISTS TAKING NOTES (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPOKESPERSON FOR SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL PREPARATION COMMITTEE BASMA QADMANI SAYING: "The line is very clear, which is the line street has adopted, the demands of yo
  • Embargoed: 28th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAC5GM1QXAH95R7D0CP1G7M8F3M
  • Story Text: Syria's exiled opposition gathered in Istanbul on Monday (September 12) in a latest effort to forge unity between different factions against the country's embattled President Bashar al Assad.
    Prominent opposition figures hope to establish a council to represent the protesters on the street during a three-day meeting.
    "The line is very clear, which is the line street has adopted, the demands of youth on the streets, the demonstrators, the revolutionaries are clear, they are asking for the end of this regime, the demise of this regime, from the top. Looking into the details of that will be the work that the council needs to conduct in order to define what exactly is meant and what kind of a strategy is needed to reach that objective, it's absolutely clear, this is what the street is demanding," Spokesperson for preparation committee, Basma Qadmani told a news conference in Istanbul.
    "We hope that this council will be one way of providing more strength and confidence to people on the street to mobilise, you have many people who are hesitant, these people we target, because we see that they can tilt in favour of the movement. And the fact that there is a political body that speaks for them, should we hope, help them," she added.
    Qadmani said the members of the council may not be disclosed due to security reasons.
    "Whether we will be able to mention all the names is an open question. We have to see how much, how many of them will be able to provide their names, or put their names, if they do not, obviously we understand very well the security concerns there," Qadmani said.
    Leading Syrian opposition figures, encouraged by international support for their cause have been holding meetings to establish a National Salvation Council that could aid in a transition of power if President Bashar al-Assad is toppled by an uprising against his rule. However they have not been able to reach an agreement so far.
    The uprising in Syria has helped resurrect an opposition decimated by 41 years of Assad family rule. It has also stimulated exiled dissidents to bankroll the revolt and to coordinate with local pro-democracy protest organisers on the ground.
    Members of Syrian opposition are expected to announce the establishment of the new council on Thursday (September 15).
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