Syrian anti-Assad Alawites meet in Egypt

Members of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's minority Alawite sect who are opposed to his regime are meeting in Cairo amid concerns about their fate in a post-Assad Syria, The Australian reported. Organizers say the two-day meeting, which began on Saturday, is the first of its kind for opposition members of the Syrian community. Most Alawites have either rallied behind Assad or stayed quietly on the sidelines of the two-year-old conflict. Rebels fighting to topple Assad are mostly from the country's majority Sunni sect. Assad is Alawite, a Shi'ite offshoot of Islam. The meeting of about 50 Alawites reflects fear within the tiny sect that they would fall victim to revenge killings and assassinations should Assad be toppled. They plan on seeking assurances from opposition chief Mouaz al-Khatib who may attend the meeting on Sunday.