DOHA: Syria’s main opposition bloc, under pressure from Washington to reshape into a widely representative government-in-exile, agreed yesterday to broaden its structure to accommodate other groups, a spokesman said.
The decision by the Syrian National Council came on the second day of a four-day meeting of opposition groups in Doha aimed at forging a more united front against Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s regime.
Participants “have agreed a restructuring plan and to reduce the number of (current) members of the general secretariat to accommodate 200 new members representing 13 political groups and independents,” said SNC spokesman Ahmad Kamel.
He said that the number of members has been reduced from 313 to 220 while 200 new ones would be added. The SNC general secretariat would convene in its revamped structure today, he added. The meeting is also expected to discuss an initiative by leading dissident Riad Seif, which seems to enjoy US support amid reservations from some SNC members, to unite all Syrian groups opposed to Assad. AFP
