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Coalition members fear Cairo talks to produce new opposition body


(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian Coalition member warned West-backed group of the ongoing meeting of the main Syrian opposition factions in Cairo, saying there is plan to open all the roads needed for the rehabilitation of the ‘Butcher of Syria’ again after all the crimes committed against the Syrians people.

Hussein al-Said, in message submitted to NC leader, assured that all efforts by Russian-backed domestic opposition are pushing to found a substitute body which can overthrow the Coalition in order to give legitimacy to the tyrant again.

Al-Said demanded the Coalition delegation to Cairo to not involve in any talks calling to set a new framework for the coalition.

The talks have started on Thursday and is planned to end on Saturday in an attempt to agree on common positions ahead of talks on the Syria conflict in Moscow set to begin later this month, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

The Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA) has called on several Syrian opposition figures to meet in Cairo with the aim of “reaching a consensus over [formulating] a political vision that is isolated from any pressures and influences.”

The invitation comes one week after some opposition groups turned down a call from Moscow to attend the talks in the Russian capital with representatives of the Syrian government, exacerbating divisions within Syria’s already fractious opposition.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on the condition of anonymity, a source from the Istanbul-based Coalition voiced concerns that the Cairo meeting will “produce a new opposition body to act as a replacement for the Coalition.”

Only two members of the Coalition attended the meeting which will include members from the National Coordination Committee (NCC) and the Building the Syrian State movement, two Syrian-based opposition blocs.

Prominent opposition figure and former coalition leader Moaz Al-Khatib has turned down Cairo’s invitation, Malik said.

He said: “There are patriotic figures who have been invited to the meeting but we [the Coalition] do not know who they are, how they have been invited, or who picked them.”

The meeting does not have a specific agenda, the Coalition member said, and that participants will put forward a “worksheet” on a political solution to the crisis.

“The number of those invited to attend the consultative meeting in Cairo between December 22 and 24 is 30 [opposition] figures, and may rise to 40 or 50,” a Beirut-based Syrian opposition source told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The source, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media, said “eleven NCC members, eight Coalition members, and three from the Kurdish National council” will attend the meetings. (With Asharq Al-Awsat)


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