Syria opposition achieve progress in unity talks

Syrian opposition figures meeting in the Qatari capital, Doha, say they have made progress towards forging a broad-based leadership group sought by the international community.

Prominent dissident Riad Seif, who had proposed a Western-backed initiative to unite the opposition and form a transitional government, said on Thursday that he was "optimistic" an agreement could be reached.

The opposition is moving towards creating "a political leadership that would satisfy the Syrians and be recognised by the international community," Seif said.

He later added that the main opposition bloc, the Syrian National Council (SNC), had deferred a decision until after a final round of internal elections on Friday.

The SNC is hesitant since it would reportedly be given only 22 of 60 seats in the new group, to make room for activists from inside Syria. 

They say they hope to reach an agreement on the second day of a meeting in Doha.

Western and Gulf states have been pushing disparate opposition groups to unify as they try to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Meanwhile, UN agencies are to discuss the aid operation in Syria, with access for aid workers top of the agenda.

The sixth meeting of the Syrian humanitarian forum, which brings together UN aid agencies and member states, will be held in Geneva.

The Syrian government has strictly limited the presence of foreign aid agencies.

The uprising against President Assad's rule has become increasingly violent since it began in March last year.

Activists estimate that more than 35,000 people have lost their lives. The UN says some 1.2 million Syrians have been displaced, and more than two million are in need of aid.

The opposition meeting in Doha is taking place under the auspices of the Arab League, with Western powers from the international Friends of Syria group also attending.

The aim is to produce a unified, credible opposition leadership rooted inside Syria, which would then be recognised by the Friends of Syria.

So far, the Syrian National Council has been the most prominent opposition group, but it has failed to produce a united front.

The Syrian National Initiative, proposed by prominent dissident Riad Seif, would supplant the SNC and bring together Syria's exiled and internal opposition, allowing it to become the conduit for foreign assistance.

The US has said it wants to set up a broader opposition leadership council in which the SNC's influence is diluted.