Syrian opposition resume talks in Doha as twin blasts strike Daraa -...

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Syria's splintered opposition factions resumed their meetings in Doha on Saturday to discuss a new political system that would unify their ranks based on an initiative on which the Syrian National Council had reservations. The Council is expected to suggest another solution stipulating the formation of an interim government.

In its document, the Council called for the formation of four bodies; “an interim government, a fund to support the Syrian people with an invitation to the Friends of the Syrian People to provide support without any delay, a joint command for the military and a Syrian Judicial Commission.”

Qatar, which has bankrolled the opposition to Assad and played a leading role in Arab diplomacy against him, is hosting an opposition meeting, with senior U.S. diplomats hovering on the sidelines, prodding the opposition to make a deal.

Earlier on Friday, Syria's main opposition group in exile has elected a Christian Paris-based former geography teacher as its new president, a choice that could help counter Western concerns about possible Islamist influence over the group.

George Sabra said Friday that his election as head of the Syrian National Council was a sign that the opposition was not plagued by sectarian divisions and was working towards a common goal. Sabra also confirmed the SNC's main demand was to receive weapons from the international community.

The US and some other foreign backers of rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar Assad have so far refused to send weapons for fear they can fall into the wrong hands.Sabra's election came on the eve of a crucial decision for the SNC.

The Istanbul-based group, widely seen as out of touch with activists fighting the regime of President Bashar Assad, must decide on Saturday whether to join a broader opposition leadership, an idea promoted by Western and Arab backers of those trying to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Under the plan, the new group would form a transitional government in rebel-held areas of Syria and presumably serve as a conduit for foreign aid to the opposition.

However, SNC members have expressed reservations, such as fears the group's influence would be diluted.
The SNC, still the largest political opposition group, would get only about one third of some 60 seats in the new group to make room for activists inside Syria.

The SNC was to give its answer on Friday, but asked for more time after its own leadership elections dragged on and divisions arose among the members over whether to join the internationally backed initiative.

Sabra left Syria several months after the uprising against Bashar Assad erupted in March 2011 and moved to Paris. He is a former geography teacher and writer for children's television, including for the Arabic version of Sesame Street produced in Kuwait.

On the field

Two large explosions have struck the southern city of Daraa on Saturday, killing over 20 pro-regime soldiers and causing heavy material damage, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

SANA did not immediately give further information or say what the target of Saturday's explosions was.

The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said the blasts went off near a branch of the country's Military Intelligence in Daraa, adding that they were followed by clashes between regime forces and rebels fighting to topple President Bashar Assad.

APTN/AP/LBCI

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