Syrian Coalition broadened with 43 new members

The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces has broadened its formation to include up to 43 new members representing diverse trends of the opposition camp. George Sabra, the Chairman of the opposition Syrian National Council, stated at a new conference at conclusion of the marathon meetings of the Coalition that 43 new members were accepted in the bloc, increasing number of its members to 114, including four women. Sabra indicated that 15 of the new members represented the Chairman of Staff of the Free Syrian Army, 14 of the Revolutionary Movement (Al-Hirak Al-Thawri), 14 liberal figures of the veteran opposition activist, Michel Kilo, in addition to several other independent and liberal personalities. Election of a new chairman of the Coalition was delayed to June, Sabra said, indicating that some committees were formed to manage health, agricultural and educational issues for the Syrian people. The week-long deliberation was rich in crucial issues and dialogue, he said, confirming that the next meeting at this level would be held on June 12. The Coalition has declared that it will abstain from taking part in a prospected international conference for settlement in Syria "in shadow of the aggression by Iran's militias and Hezbollah on the Syrian territories." Sabra said the international community must "take this into consideration because life of the Syrians is much more important than international conventions." The United States and Russia have been exerting efforts to hold a broad convention for settling the Syrian crisis in Geneva, later this summer. But the Syrian opposition has been infuriated with Hezbollah's involvement in the fighting at several axes on the Syrian arena, namely Al-Qusayr, a major town situated on a route linking central Syria with the north of the country.