Syria opposition group form council to counter Assad
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 17 July 2011 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Syria opposition group form council to counter Assad, 17 July 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4e39055d1e.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 17, 2011
A meeting of Syrian opposition figures in Istanbul elected a 25-member "national salvation" council composed of Islamists, liberals, and independents.
Of the close to 350 people who attended the opposition congress, many were Syrian exiles who had left the country years earlier.
During the Istanbul meeting, the opposition groups appeared divided over whether to form a government-in-waiting or wait to see how the uprising unfolds.
They finally compromised on forming the council which will meet on July 17 to appoint an 11-member committee. A further meeting will seek to tighten bonds between the opposition groups. The meeting took place a day after the biggest demonstrations so far in Syria.
On July 15, President Bashar al-Assad's troops killed at least 32 civilians, including 23 in the capital Damascus.
compiled from agency reports
Link to original story on RFE/RL website