Syrian opposition figures launched a new bid to revive their campaign against the regime of Bashar al-Assad at talks in Qatar, where a senior leader said they had to “correct” past mistakes.
Riad Hijab, who joined the opposition when he was Prime Minister under the Assad regime in 2012, told the opening of the two-day meeting that events in Syria were “grim”.
He said the meeting must “assess our progress and correct the errors we have made along the difficult path to achieving a unified, free, democratic state”.
The opposition figure did not say what mistakes had been made, but his entourage said opposition parties failed to communicate with Syrian citizens and make themselves relevant to their daily struggles.
Hijab said it was “imperative” for the opposition to “implement effective plans” to counter Assad’s regime.
A list of recommendations aiming to “unify” the opposition would be released at the end of the talks, a statement said.
Salem al-Meslet, head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, said it was important to “send a message to all Syrians, listen to their advice and make a new plan”.
With international talks on Syria’s future at a deadlock, al-Meslet said a united opposition would also send “an important message to the UN envoy” on the conflict.
