Assad's foes in crucial meeting at Doha
DOHA, Nov 04, 2012 - The opposition Syrian National Council begins a four-day meeting on Sunday in Doha, where the United States will reportedly press for an overhaul of the coalition aiming to topple President Bashar alAssad.Details have emerged of plans to reshape the opposition into a representative government-in-exile, after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton charged that the SNC was not representative.
Washington is pressing for a makeover of the opposition, with long-time dissident Riad Seif reportedly touted as the potential head of a new government-in-exile dubbed the Syrian National Initiative.Seif and about two dozen other leading opposition figures gathered in Amman on Thursday and came up with proposals for a new body to represent the disparate groups opposing Assad.
Among those in attendance were some SNC members, former premier Riad Hijab, who defected in August; Ali Sadreddin Bayanuni of the Muslim
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton charged that the SNC was not representative
Brotherhood and Kurdish and tribal representatives, participants said. Meanwhile the BBC reported the Doha talks come a day after rebels in northern Syria launched an offensive to win control of a key airbase.
Activists said the fighting at Taftanaz, which is crucial for government supply lines into northern Syria, continued into Saturday evening, although state media said government forces had repelled the assault.
In recent months, the government forces have been making increasing use of air power to strike areas held by the rebels, who lack anti-aircraft weapons to deter the attacks.( Compiled from AFP amd BBC reports)