The Arab League welcomed on Monday the formation of a new Syrian opposition group, but stopped short of giving it full recognition as the representative of the Syrian people.
With some Arab states still reluctant to completely abandon Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo were unable to state clearly that the new Syrian National Coalition was the sole legitimate Syrian voice.
Leaders of Syria’s exiled opposition, beset by bickering and questions about how much influence they have on the ground, formed the new coalition on Sunday that is now seeking international recognition as a government-in-waiting.
“The Arab League ministerial council welcomes the agreement that the Syrian opposition parties reached … and calls on the other opposition parties to join this coalition,” said Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim, reading the meeting’s final resolution late on Monday.
The ministers “urged regional and international organisations to recognise it as a legitimate representative for the aspirations of the Syrian people,” and called it “a legitimate representative and a primary negotiator with the Arab League.”
