Opposition eyes Syria seat at UN, Arab League

BEIRUT, Lebanon – The opposition Syrian National Coalition has urged the international community to help it take over Syria’s seats at the UN and Arab League as part of efforts to set up a transitional government.

The group, which has been widely recognised by Arab and Western nations as the sole representative of the Syrian people, also asked to be given regime assets frozen as part of international sanctions on the Damascus government.

In statement late Thursday, January 10, the coalition urged “the international community to end all legitimacy of the Assad regime by granting Syria’s seat at the UN and Arab League to the transitional government” being set up by the opposition.

The coalition, set up in Qatar in November and grouping the majority of opposition forces, including a unified military command, said it was striving to set up a transitional government.

“The Coalition is working with committees composed of technocrats who will serve as the nucleus for future ministries,” the statement read.

Syria still maintains its seat at the United Nations while the Arab League voted to suspend its membership in the 22-seat Cairo-based organisation in November 2011 in protest at the bloody crackdown against protesters.

The UN estimates that more than 60,000 people have been killed in Syria since the outbreak of the revolt against Assad’s regime in March 2011. – Rappler.com