Syria's Opposition Groups Agree To Unite Against Assad

Syria's Opposition Groups Strike Unity Deal Against Assad -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Syria's fractious opposition finally put aside fierce arguments to rally behind a new leader within a new coalition that its Western and Arab backers hope can topple Bashar al-Assad and take over the country.

After days of wrangling in Qatar under constant cajoling by exasperated Arab, U.S. and other officials, representatives of groups including rebel fighters, veteran dissidents and ethnic and religious minorities agreed on Sunday to join a new assembly that can form a government-in-exile. They unanimously elected reformist Damascus cleric Mouaz al-Khatib as its president.

Khatib, a soft-spoken preacher who was once imam of the ancient Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, immediately called on soldiers to quit the Syrian army and on all sects to unite.

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More News On Syria's Opposition Groups Agreeing To Unite Against Assad

Syrian opposition groups sign coalition deal -- Al Jazeera
With Eye on Aid, Syria Opposition Signs Unity Deal -- New York Times
Syrian Opposition Groups Reach Deal -- Radio Free Europe
Syria Opposition Moves to Unite -- Wall Street Journal
Syria opposition unites as Israel fires warning shots -- AFP
Syrian opposition groups agree in principle on unity plan -- AFP
Fractious Syrian opposition says it has formed a united coalition -- L.A. Times
Syrian opposition agrees to form unified coalition -- RT
Syrian opposition groups reach initial agreement; Israel fires warning shots -- CNN
Syrian opposition sign unity deal -- Deutsche Welle
Britain welcomes Syrian opposition deal -- AFP

My Comment: This is a significant step. Will the international community support them substantially is another story .... but I suspect that after 19 months of conflict and 40,000 deaths, there will be a movement to assist this opposition coalition against Assad.