Syrian opposition sign unity deal

Deutsche Welle, 11 November 2012

Opponents to Syria's Bashar al-Assad have announced a unity agreement following protracted talks in Qatar. The deal comes as violence continues to rage on the ground in Syria.

Syrian opposition groups have signed a unity agreement to create a new coalition against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a Syrian delegate announced on Sunday.

"We initialled an agreement ... to form a national coalition of opposition forces," high-profile dissident Sadr Iddine al-Bayanouni said following drawn-out talks between opposition forces in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

The new coalition is to be made up of groups operating both inside and outside the country. It will be called the National Coalition for Opposition Forces and the Syrian Revolution, the delegate added.

The development came as reports trickled through of Syrian helicopters and artillery bombarding an area close to the Turkish border. Rebels from the Free Syrian Army had seized the territory, called Ras al-Ain, the day before; according to the opposition.

Meanwhile, Israel confirmed on Sunday that it has fired "warning shots" into Syria after stray mortar fire from a battle between the rebels and government forces landed in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights near the border with Syria. Israeli public radio said it was the first time Israel had fired on Syria since the 1973 war.

The violence in Syria on Sunday follows Saturday's bloodbath, which left 121 people dead, including 11 civilians in Daraya, which is located just outside the capital Damascus.

sej/mz (AFP, Reuters, dpa)

Moaz al-Khatib left Damascus for Cairo in July

 after periods of detention by the Syrian authorities

Related Articles:

Syria crisis: Gulf states recognise Syria opposition - New

Profile: Syria opposition leader Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib

Newly United Syria Opposition Bids for Recognition

US Declares Support for United Syrian Opposition

Syria cleric Moaz al-Khatib to lead opposition

Syrian opposition leader calls for foreign help without conditions