Syrian ex-PM Talks with Ankara about Opposition Restructuring
Syria's former prime minister Riad Hijab met Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday to discuss efforts to restructure the fragmented Syrian opposition, a diplomatic source told Agence France Presse.
"The ways to address the Syrian crisis and a reorganization among the Syrian opposition ranks were discussed," in the meeting, the source said.
The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria was also addressed, the same source added.
Hijab defected from President Bashar Assad's regime on August 5 after just two months in the post.
He has been in contact with Turkish leaders and met some of them in September in Istanbul to exchange views on resolving the Syrian conflict, the source noted.
Turkey extends logistical support to the Syrian political and armed opposition which have operational bases inside the country. It also hosts over 100,000 Syrian refugees who have fled across the border.
Hijab and Davutoglu's meeting came after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized the main opposition Syrian National Council for no longer being able to remain "the visible leader of the opposition.”
"There needs to be an opposition that can speak to every segment and every geographic part of Syria," Clinton said, calling for a strong structure to represent all Syrians.
The SNC launched on Sunday a four-day meeting in Doha to seek ways to broaden its representation to every segment in Syria.
Source: Agence France Presse
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