ISTANBUL, (Reuters) – Syria’s main opposition groups joined together today to call on the international community to take action to protect Syrian people facing a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
A statement issued in Istanbul on behalf of the newly formed National Council rejected foreign intervention that “compromises Syria’s sovereignty” but said the outside world had a humanitarian obligation to protect the Syrian people.
“The Council demands international governments and organisations meet their responsibility to support the Syrian people, protect them and stop the crimes and gross human rights violations being committed by the illegitimate current regime,” the statement said.
It also said the Muslim Brotherhood, the Damascus Declaration – the main grouping of established opposition figures – and grassroots activists all had joined the National Council.
While few expect a Libya-style intervention in Syria, the declaration was nonetheless an important show of unity for the opposition, which has been weakened by in-fighting.
“The fact that Islamists, secular figures and activists in the ground are now on one council is a significant,” a diplomat in the Syrian capital Damascus said.
“But they still have to demonstrate that they could be politically savvy and able to fill any political vacuum. They need a detailed action plan beyond the generalities of wanting a democratic Syria.”
The United Nations says 2,700 people, including 100 children, have been killed in six months of protests against President Bashar al-Assad.
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