SYRIA: Syria's exiled opposition announces the establishment of a national council, as a united front against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad

Record ID: 276231

  • Title: SYRIA: Syria's exiled opposition announces the establishment of a national council, as a united front against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad
  • Date: 16th September 2011
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (SEPTEMBER 15, 2011) (REUTERS) VIEW OF SYRIAN OPPOSITION HOLDING NEWS CONFERENCE MEMBERS OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL ABDULBASET SIEDA AND EMADEDDIN RASHID BEING SEATED CAMERAMEN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SPOKESPERSON FOR SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, BASMA QADMANI, SAYING: "Young revolutionaries, activists, technocrats and prominent politicans agreed on
  • Embargoed: 1st October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAA7KZEQ9D8JRPPDVNOBM1BKVW9
  • Story Text: Syrian opposition unveiled the National Syrian Council on Thursday (September 15), a united group against the country's embattled leader President Bashar al-Assad. Syrians from all walks of life have joined the National Syrian Council in efforts to bring forward political change.
    "Young revolutionaries, activists, technocrats and prominent politicians agreed on forming the Syrian National Council. Our doors are open for all, to represent other political parties and to form a encompassing national frame. We aim to bring down the regime by legitimate means and to protect state institutions and to preserve the peaceful principles of the revolution," Spokesperson of National Syrian Council, Basma Qadmani, told a news conference in Istanbul.
    The council will have 140 members. 72 of them were announced during Thursday's meeting.
    "60 percent of the members of Syrian National Council are from inside Syria, 40 percent of them are from outside. 50 percent of the members are chosen among young revolutionaries," a member of the council Abdulbaset Sieda 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 Assad is toppled by an uprising against his rule.
    They have established various councils and committees in the past six months, however none of them worked properly due to differences of opinion.
    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.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register