TURKEY: Syrian opposition unites under Syrian National Council

Record ID: 279487

  • Title: TURKEY: Syrian opposition unites under Syrian National Council
  • Date: 3rd October 2011
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (OCTOBER 2, 2011) (REUTERS) MEMBERS OF SYRIAN OPPOSITION DISCUSSING IN THE LOBBY POLICE ARRIVING POLICE EMPTYING THE VENUE EXECUTIVE COMMITEE MEMBERS OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL ARRIVING FOR A NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, BURHAN GHAILOUN, SAYING: "The forces which are
  • Embargoed: 18th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAE2FZG9I9MZG4055O48NL4SQEU
  • Story Text: Syria's main opposition groups agreed on Sunday (October 2) to join a newly formed National Council, giving a major boost to President Bashar al-Assad's opponents.
    A declaration issued in Istanbul said the Muslim Brotherhood, the Damascus Declaration, the main grouping of established opposition figures and the Higher Syrian Revolution Council activists group all had joined the National Council.
    The groups oppose the continued rule of Assad, who has been the target of six months of protests.
    The creation of renowned Syrian National Council was declared by Executive Committee Member, Burhan Ghailoun, during a news conference in Istanbul.
    "The forces which are signing this statement announce the formation of the National Syrian Council as a framework for the united opposition and the peaceful revolution. This council is the representing body for the Syrian revolution in the inside and the outside. This council will work on mobilizing the Syrian people and providing all necessary support in order for the revolution to achieve all the goals and hopes of our people to overthrow the current regime with all of its members and figures," he said.
    Ghailoun added that the committee did not want to follow the route of Libya's interim ruling council, the National Transitional Council, by encouraging outside intervention.
    "Any form of intervention must happen with the agreement of the National Council, which has been formed today. In this case, we will be cooperating with the international forces. We will not accept any intervention outside the framework of an agreement with the National Council, which constitutes the major force to liberate Syria from this oppressing regime," he said.
    Gathered delegates and committee members ended the press conference by singing Syria's national anthem.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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