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Syria National Council to decide on unity leadership Syria National Council to decide on unity leadership
(about 2 hours later)
  
The Syrian National Council is facing a key decision on whether to join other groups in a more unified opposition.The Syrian National Council is facing a key decision on whether to join other groups in a more unified opposition.
The proposed Syrian National Initiative aims to merge the disparate military and political groups to form a credible alternative to the Assad government.The proposed Syrian National Initiative aims to merge the disparate military and political groups to form a credible alternative to the Assad government.
Western and Gulf states have been pushing for such a body, which would act as a conduit for humanitarian - and possibly military - aid.Western and Gulf states have been pushing for such a body, which would act as a conduit for humanitarian - and possibly military - aid.
Meanwhile, UN agencies are in Geneva to discuss the aid operation in Syria. Meanwhile, the UN said 11,000 Syrians have fled in the past 24 hours.
Improving access for aid workers will be top of the agenda at the sixth meeting of the Syrian humanitarian forum, which brings together UN aid agencies and member states. UN officials meeting in Geneva said the increased rate of refugees reflected the deteriorating situation in Syria.
The Syrian government has strictly limited the presence of foreign aid agencies. Among those fleeing, 9,000 went to Turkey, bringing the total number of Syrians there to 120,000.
Activists estimate that more than 35,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March last year. Turkish news agency Anatolia said dozens of defecting Syrian army officers, including two generals and 11 colonels, had arrived in Turkey on Friday.
Aid officials at the Geneva meeting warned that 2.5 million Syrians now need humanitarian aid.
The Damascus government has strictly limited the presence of foreign aid agencies.
Although the devil may prove to be in the detail, the mood among many SNC members seems to be one of grudging admission that they have to go along with the strongly Western-backed initiative aimed at producing a unified new opposition leadership in which the SNC itself would not enjoy a majority role.Although the devil may prove to be in the detail, the mood among many SNC members seems to be one of grudging admission that they have to go along with the strongly Western-backed initiative aimed at producing a unified new opposition leadership in which the SNC itself would not enjoy a majority role.
If the SNC withholds approval, the whole package on offer - recognition, huge funds, possibly much-needed quality arms supplies - would be withdrawn and the opposition left more divided than ever.If the SNC withholds approval, the whole package on offer - recognition, huge funds, possibly much-needed quality arms supplies - would be withdrawn and the opposition left more divided than ever.
One possibility is that the SNC may go back with a qualified Yes, but seek assurances for its own continuing role as a distinct entity and guarantees that Western promises would be kept.One possibility is that the SNC may go back with a qualified Yes, but seek assurances for its own continuing role as a distinct entity and guarantees that Western promises would be kept.
Assuming the package is agreed, the next step would be the formation of a 60-person unified political leadership, in which the SNC (under the current proposal) would be given 22 out of 60 seats, with provincial councils taking another 14, and the others allocated mainly to activists from inside the country.Assuming the package is agreed, the next step would be the formation of a 60-person unified political leadership, in which the SNC (under the current proposal) would be given 22 out of 60 seats, with provincial councils taking another 14, and the others allocated mainly to activists from inside the country.
That would be followed in short order by a Friends of Syria meeting in Morocco, at which the new leadership would obtain formal recognition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syria people, and pledges of massive funds, running into billions of dollars, to administer the "liberated" areas. That would be followed in short order by a Friends of Syria meeting in Morocco, at which the new leadership would obtain formal recognition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syria people, and pledges of massive funds to administer the "liberated" areas.
The UN says some 1.2 million Syrians have been displaced, and more than two million are in need of aid. Activists estimate that more than 35,000 people have been killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March last year.
Since Thursday about 11,000 people have left Syria, the UN's refugee agency said. Among then were 9,000 who went to Turkey, bringing the total number of Syrians in the country to 120,000.
Dozens of officers who had defected from the Syrian army were among those arriving in Turkey, including two generals and 11 colonels, the Turkish news agency Anatolia reported.
'Failure forbidden''Failure forbidden'
The opposition meeting, in the Qatari capital Doha, is taking place under the auspices of the Arab League, with Western powers from the international Friends of Syria group also attending.The opposition meeting, in the Qatari capital Doha, is taking place under the auspices of the Arab League, with Western powers from the international Friends of Syria group also attending.
So far Syrian National Council, itself an umbrella group, has been the most prominent opposition in the uprising, but has failed to produce a united front.So far Syrian National Council, itself an umbrella group, has been the most prominent opposition in the uprising, but has failed to produce a united front.
It has also been criticised for the fact its members are largely based outside Syria.It has also been criticised for the fact its members are largely based outside Syria.
The US has said it wants to set up a broader opposition group in which the SNC's influence is diluted.The US has said it wants to set up a broader opposition group in which the SNC's influence is diluted.
The Syrian National Initiative, proposed by prominent dissident Riad Seif, would replace the council, bringing together Syria's exiled and internal opposition and channelling foreign aid.The Syrian National Initiative, proposed by prominent dissident Riad Seif, would replace the council, bringing together Syria's exiled and internal opposition and channelling foreign aid.
But the BBC's Jim Muir, in Doha, says the SNC is wary of signing up as a minority element in a new leadership without guarantees that the new body will be given enough support needed to defeat the regime.But the BBC's Jim Muir, in Doha, says the SNC is wary of signing up as a minority element in a new leadership without guarantees that the new body will be given enough support needed to defeat the regime.
The SNC, which has been holding its own talks in Doha, will elect a new executive and president on Friday, before deciding whether to back the initiative.The SNC, which has been holding its own talks in Doha, will elect a new executive and president on Friday, before deciding whether to back the initiative.
If it does not, says our correspondent, it risks being heavily blamed for pursuing its own interests above those of the people.If it does not, says our correspondent, it risks being heavily blamed for pursuing its own interests above those of the people.
Such a move would open a stark rift in the opposition, he adds, especially between "insiders" who are strongly represented in the new leadership plan, and those who have been in exile for years.Such a move would open a stark rift in the opposition, he adds, especially between "insiders" who are strongly represented in the new leadership plan, and those who have been in exile for years.
Mr Seif said opposition leaders had made progress on the first day of talks, and that some SNC members had indicated their acceptance of a plan to set up a new leadership group composed of 60 members.Mr Seif said opposition leaders had made progress on the first day of talks, and that some SNC members had indicated their acceptance of a plan to set up a new leadership group composed of 60 members.
Veteran opposition figure Haytham al-Maleh told AFP news agency: "We hope we can reach an agreement [on Friday] after the Syrian National Council has succeeded in selecting a new leadership."Veteran opposition figure Haytham al-Maleh told AFP news agency: "We hope we can reach an agreement [on Friday] after the Syrian National Council has succeeded in selecting a new leadership."
Burhan Ghalioun, ex-leader of the SNC outside Syria, said the atmosphere was "positive" and that failure was "forbidden".Burhan Ghalioun, ex-leader of the SNC outside Syria, said the atmosphere was "positive" and that failure was "forbidden".
The meeting on aid access in Geneva comes after the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the organisation could not cope with Syria's growing needs.The meeting on aid access in Geneva comes after the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the organisation could not cope with Syria's growing needs.
There are currently "a lot of blank spots", and an unknown number of people were not getting access to the aid they needed, said Peter Maurer.There are currently "a lot of blank spots", and an unknown number of people were not getting access to the aid they needed, said Peter Maurer.
The ICRC has not been able to get to certain parts of the country, he added, giving as an example the city of Aleppo, which has been badly hit by violence in recent months.The ICRC has not been able to get to certain parts of the country, he added, giving as an example the city of Aleppo, which has been badly hit by violence in recent months.