Syrian opposition unite over plan for post-Assad Syria

Members of the Arab League monitoring mission are pressing on with their visit to cities and towns across Syria as Syrian opposition groups prepare an agreement on setting up a government should Syria’s Assad fall.          

Amid rallies and protests, both for and against the Assad regime, the mission will visit several more regions on Saturday including the province of Idlib, where a major protest was held in anticipation of the observers’ arrival.        

In this regard, the Free Syrian Army commander, a Syrian Army deserter, Colonel Riyad al-Asaad decided to put an end to all operations against security forces during the observers’ visit.           

Meanwhile, the Syrian National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change, that includes opposition parties and figures, reached an agreement with the Syrian National Council, setting political rules for the democratic transition phase. The agreement stipulates the rejection of any foreign military intervention that would undermine the country’s sovereignty, does not consider the Arab intervention as foreign intervention and calls for the protection of civilians.            

According to the agreement, a transitional period must begin after the fall of Assad’s regime that preserves all state institutions, drafts a new constitution and gives equality to all Syrian citizens, including the Kurdish minority.          

The agreement will be submitted as an official document to the Arab League on Sunday in Cairo.