Syrian opposition activists meet in Istanbul to plan strategy

Syrian people living in Egypt protest against the Syrian regime in front of the Arab League headquarters Approximately 200 Syrian opposition activists met Wednesday in Istanbul for the first of four planned days of workshops intended to coordinate their efforts against the Syrian regime. "This will be the seed for future civil society institutions and movements in Syria," said Moaz Al-Sibaai, the meeting's general coordinator. He said the goal is "to improve ways to deliver our message to the outside world, ways of documenting human rights violations in Syria and giving coherent political messages."
The gathering, organized by Syrian Activists Network, is taking place in a hotel on the Asian side of the city. The participants will attend training sessions and workshops on subjects related to human rights, media, political and strategic issues, as well as relief and coordination efforts. At the venue, their general mood was enthusiastic, with many expressing optimism they will achieve their goals.
Syrian opposition groups have held a number of meetings in Turkey in recent months. The last one, organized by the Syrian National Salvation Council, took place mid-July in Istanbul. Participants elected a 25-member council in a show of unity behind their intention to oust the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
"It is not about toppling the regime, we are past that," said Sima Abedraboh, an organizer and participant at Wednesday's event. "We are building here, thinking about the future of Syria."
Thursday, human rights activists reported that Security forces arrested two opposition members of a national coordination committee for democratic change in Syria. "Security forces in Damascus on 27 July arrested two known Syrian opposition figures Adnan Wehbe and Nizar al-Samadi..," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a statement, adding their fate "remains unknown."
The Observatory condemned what it called the "continuing campaign of arrests" of opposition figures, peaceful demonstrators and human rights militants.
"We call on the Syrian authorities immediately to liberate all those who are detained in Syrian prisons, in conformity with international pledges on human rights, signed and ratified by Syria," the statement said.
The Observatory said Webhe was one of the leaders of the Democratic Socialist Arab Union Party while Samadi was a well-known Islamic personality from Douma, an outer suburb of Damascus.
The coordination committee, drawing together political parties and several opposition activists, was set up late in June as part of efforts to bring democratic change to Syria.
World powers have criticized the crackdown by al-Assad's government. The U.S. State Department this week said al-Assad is the "cause" of the country's "instability" and is not "the key to its stability."
Wednesday activists reported Syrian troops opened fire yesterday on scores of people in a Damascus suburb, killing at least 11 people who were trying to halt the soldiers' advance by throwing stones and burning tires.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the residents of the Kanaker suburb were trying to set up blockades around the area to stop several tanks and a bulldozer that were heading in.
The group said the raid wounded a number of people who were being treated in mosques that residents had turned into makeshift hospitals. It said the raid occurred after electricity and telephones were cut off in the area.
The violence was the latest turn in the Syrian uprising against President Bashar Al Assad, which has lasted for nearly five months despite a brutal government crackdown on dissent.
Activists say more than 1,600 people have been killed, most of them unarmed protesters. Although Al Assad's regime blames the unrest on terrorists and foreign extremists — not true reform-seekers — the president has acknowledged the need for reforms.
Late on Tuesday, the Cabinet endorsed draft legislation that would enable newly formed political parties to run for parliament and local councils, a human rights group said.