Syrian opposition figures meet in Damascus as clashes continue across the country

Syrian opposition figures are holding a rare meeting in Damascus for talks during which they called for the overthrow of the Syrian regime.                  

Some 16 opposition parties are taking part in the conference headed by the National Coordination Body for Democratic Change in Syria  a Syria-based opposition group.       

The rare opposition gathering in a regime-held city was to discuss peaceful ways to end Syria's raging civil war and help unite the fragmented opposition.                  

Sunday's meeting at a hotel in the capital was held under tight security and was attended by ambassadors of Russia and Iran, two allies of embattled President Bashar Assad's regime. The Free Syrian Army said on Sunday that it is currently controlling most of country, a day after announcing it has moved its command center from Turkey to "liberated areas" inside Syria.               

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi held talks about Syria on Saturday, and agreed that the crisis was "a steadily increasing threat to regional peace and stability," according to a statement.        

Meanwhile, shelling and clashes in many Syrian towns continue, including Aleppo and its suburbs.

AP/LBCI