Syria's opposition forces have formed a revolutionary “National Council” to maintain their struggle against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Spokesman Jamil Said announced in a statement that the group had created the body “to lead the Syrian revolution, comprising all communities and representatives of national political forces inside and outside Syria.”
Said made his statement to media together with fellow activists in a news conference held Sunday near the Turkish-Syrian border, a day before Assad delivered a speech to the nation expressing "love," promising reforms and warning of a "conspiracy" while his troops continue their attempts to block refugees from attempting to escape to Turkey.
The group went on to urge its fellow protesters around the country “to cooperate in all cities and provinces of Syria to achieve the legitimate goal of overthrowing the regime and bringing it to justice.”
According to the statement, the council was created “in the face of the silence of the Arab world and the international community” in view of the crimes perpetrated by the Assad regime against peaceful civilian protesters.
Saib noted with some frustration that although the international community moved swiftly against Libyan dictator Muammar Qadaffi in response to his brutality against his own people, they had not done the same in the case of Bashar al-Assad, AFP reported.
“In Libya, after the death of 200 people, Qadaffi no longer had legitimacy,” Saib said. “Here in Syria, while all human rights groups say there are 1,500 killed and thousands more injured or people arrested, the international community and the Arab world are silent.”
Council members include Abdullah Trad al-Moulahim, who helped organize a Syrian opposition gathering in Turkey several weeks ago. Also on the council are Haitham al-Maleh, Suhair al-Atassi, Aref Dalila, Sheikh Khaled al-Khalaf and Mamoun al-Homsi.