Syrian Opposition Oversees Asks for Foreign Intervention

Local Editor

Syria’s main opposition groups joined together on Sunday to call on the international community to take action to “protect” their countrymen.

A statement issued in Istanbul on behalf of the newly formed National Council rejected foreign intervention that “compromises Syria’s sovereignty” but said the outside world had a humanitarian obligation to protect the Syrian people.

“The council demands international governments and organizations meet their responsibility to support the Syrian people, protect them and stop the crimes and gross human rights violations being committed by the illegitimate current regime,” the statement said.
The Istanbul declaration was read out by Bourhan Ghalioun, a secular professor of politics living in France.

The statement said the Muslim Brotherhood, the Damascus Declaration – the main grouping of established opposition figures – and grassroots activists all had joined the National Council.

Ghalioun said with the new group, the Syrian opposition would act as "a united front in the face of the daily massacres committed by the regime against unarmed civilians, most recently in Rastan."

Riad Seif

“The fact that Islamists, secular figures and activists in the ground are now on one council is a significant,” a diplomat in Damascus said. “But they still have to demonstrate that they could be politically savvy and able to fill any political vacuum. They need a detailed action plan beyond the generalities of wanting a democratic Syria.”
Among those represented in the Damascus Declaration are former parliamentarian Riad Seif, seen as possibly playing a leadership role if Assad were to fall, and Riad al-Turk, Syria’s top dissident.

Syrian troops have retaken control of the central town of Rastan after sending in 250 tanks to quell clashes between the army and deserters, human rights activists said on Sunday.

Source: Websites Syrian 'Opposition': 'By all means, please bomb & destroy our country!' "...The SNC's web page on the implementation of a no-fly zone to protect Syrian civilians, similar to the one that exists over Libya, does not explicitly endorse such an option. It argues that while "the situation itself might warrant an air defense blanket," practical considerations make the creation of a no-fly zone more difficult. But the pictures on the website tell a different story. Four detailed maps (1,2,3,4) show the placement of Syrian air defenses - specifically the Soviet-designed S-25, S-75, S-125, and S-200 surface-to-air missiles, and the 2K12 "Kub" air defense system - which an international force (AND ISRAEL) would presumably need to destroy to implement a no-fly zone. Another chart compares Syria's total number of anti-aircraft weapons, which is lists at 3,310, to other nations. SNC Chairman Burhan Ghalioun affirmed yesterday that the council "rejects any outside interference ..."

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