Syrian opposition finally forms unified coalition

 The Syrian opposition has formed a new coalition backed by funds from its Arab and Western allies, as it finally prepares for the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

 The new body, which was born from long days of intensive meetings in Doha's five star hotels, was on Sunday baptised with the awkward title of Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces.

It represents the most concerted effort yet by the international community to bring together and back Syria's fractured dissident group.

Last night the US declared its support for the new coalition. "We look forward to supporting the National Coalition as it charts a course toward the end of Assad's bloody rule and the start of the peaceful, just, democratic future that all the people of Syria deserve," State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement.

Countries, including the US and Britain, have been pushing for a unified Syrian opposition body through which financial and military support can be channelled to the insurgency inside Syria. The US last week criticised the Syrian National Council, until now the main political opposition group outside of Syria, for failing to fulfil its role as leader of the revolution.

Ambassadors from the opposition's foreign allies, the Friends of Syria core group, had gathered at the conference to pressure the opposition into adopting the initiative.

International backers of the opposition fear that the changing events on the ground could lead to President Assad's rule collapsing and jihadist militias seizing the initiative in a power vacuum if no opposition body abroad is in a position to step in immediately.

Comprising approximately 60 members, the group includes a representative from each of Syria's major cities, up to 22 members of the SNC, and well-known dissidents from inside and outside the country.

"Everyone has signed our names to this," said Syrian dissident Yaser Tabbara, who helped shape the plan.

On Sunday night, the new bloc elected cleric Ahmed al-Khatib, a moderate originally from Damascus who quit Syria three months, as president.

Prominent dissident Riad Seif, who had tabled an initiative to unite the opposition, and female opposition figure Suhair al-Atassi, were elected as vice presidents of the coalition.

Angry at being sidelined, the SNC had tried to derail the initiative by refusing to be represented in the new body and opposing key clauses. The new initiative however courted the SNC, aware that as the largest political opposition group, it needed to be included.

On Sunday the document detailing the commitments of the new initiative remained vague, suggesting that the SNC might still be bluffing its commitment.

"We have crossed the Rubicon," said one senior Western diplomat, indicating that Sunday's announcement was a breakthrough after months of planning, but that there remained a long way to go before a full agreement was reached.

In the coming weeks the body is set to elect a 'cabinet' of at least 10 people, that will form a government to 'manage the revolution' in Syria, with logistical and military support.

The Friends of Syria countries have committed to a stimulus package of millions of dollars to boost the impact that the new group can have on the ground in Syria. They will then work towards recognising the group as the "legitimate representative of the Syrian people", a title that the toothless SNC never achieved.

"We will work on releasing the frozen Syrian assets, and gaining the Syria seat at the Arab League," said Mr Tabbara.

But the serious question remains of whether this new initiative, even when backed by the support of its international allies will succeed in winning the support of fighters and civilians inside Syria.

William Hague meanwhile hailed the decision to form the new group, calling it an "important milestone".