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                     Syrian Opposition Considers Unity Plan

   by VOA News

   Syrian opposition members are holding talks Thursday in Qatar on a plan
   to create a broader, more unified council of rebels and political
   figures pushing to oust President Bashar al-Assad.
   The proposed group would later choose a temporary government for Syria
   and coordinate with the revolt's military wing.  The plan would give
   about a third of the seats to members of the Syrian National Council,
   the main opposition group in exile.
   Ahead of the Thursday meeting, the SNC elected its own 40-person
   leadership body, but officials said more members would likely be added
   because no women were selected.
   The United States has said it expects an organized Syrian opposition to
   include the SNC, but also other groups.  Secretary of State Hillary
   Clinton said last week that the SNC can no longer be considered the
   visible leader of the opposition.
   Meanwhile, Turkish media say Turkey has ordered an Armenian plane bound
   for Syria to land in the eastern Turkish city of Erzurum for a cargo
   inspection.
   It was the second time Turkey has stopped an Armenian aircraft flying
   over its airspace, as it tries to prevent military equipment from being
   flown into neighboring Syria.  The plane was reported to be carrying
   humanitarian aid.
   Turkey said Wednesday it would ask NATO to station "Patriot"
   air-defense missiles along its border with Syria to guard against any
   violence spilling onto its territory.
   The Syrian conflict, which began as a protest movement against the rule
   of President Assad, is entering its 20th month. An estimated 36,000
   people have died as the government crackdown against protesters
   developed into full-blown civil war.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/syrian-opposition-considers-unity-plan/1541738.html