TURKEY: Syria's Muslim Brotherhood says it is hopeful all opposition groups will be able to agree on a joint vision for the future of their country

Record ID: 280489

  • Title: TURKEY: Syria's Muslim Brotherhood says it is hopeful all opposition groups will be able to agree on a joint vision for the future of their country
  • Date: 26th March 2012
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (MARCH 25, 2012) (REUTERS) SYRIAN MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD MEMBERS IN NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD ALLIANCE MEMBER, FARUQ TAYFUR SAYING: "Regarding the meeting that will be held in Istanbul tomorrow, 26th March, it will bring together the National Council and all the opposition groups, whether they are indepe
  • Embargoed: 10th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB38BBWNIPHALAD3Y8QXLZGRCM
  • Story Text: Opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will try to overcome crippling feuds and plot a more coherent strategy at a meeting in Turkey on Monday (March 26).
    Ahead of the gathering, Syria's Muslim Brotherhood said they hoped all those attending would be able to agree on a common way forwards for their country.
    "Regarding the meeting that will be held in Istanbul tomorrow, 26th March, it will bring together the National Council and all the opposition groups, whether they are independent, or parties, or civil society organisations, all elements of the Syrian opposition. The aim of this is to agree on a joint vision for the future of Syria," said the Brotherhood's Faruq Tayfur.
    The Syrian National Council (SNC) draws together personalities from across the political spectrum, but prominent liberals and independent Islamists have grown wary of the rising influence of the Muslim Brotherhood within the 270-member organisation, sources said.
    Some critics have also accused the SNC of being out of touch with ordinary Syrians who are bearing the brunt of an uprising that has killed at least 8,000, according to U.N. figures.
    Despite the potential tensions, Tayfur said he was hopeful that Monday's meeting would have a positive outcome.
    "And also, working papers have been introduced within this framework and these will be looked at during the summit and the delegates will arrive at a joint, united vision for the future of Syria. All the opposition groups will agree on it," he said.
    Five prominent members of the SNC quit this month, saying they had given up hope of making the movement a more effective player. They have formed the rival Syrian Patriotic Group (SPG).
    And after months of bloodshed in Syria and internal squabbling among the opposition, Burhan Ghalioun's leadership of the SNC has been called into question.
    However, Tayfur said Ghalioun still retained widespread support.
    "We are a democratic institution within the framework of the Council and the choice regarding the leadership of the Council, the choice of Burhan Ghalioun is a democratic choice as part of the Council's internal elections, obtained by the highest number of votes," he said.
    Monday's meetings come just ahead of an April 1 Istanbul conference of the "Friends of Syria" - a loose alliance of more than 50 states looking to oust Assad after a bloody 12-month revolt against his rule.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register