Syrian opposition meeting thrown into doubt

Source: The Guardian

Plans for the first open opposition meeting in Damascus for more than a decade are in jeopardy, with Syrian authorities yet to give permission for the gathering to go ahead.

More than 150 intellectuals and activists were planning to meet in a hotel in downtown Damascus on Monday in what had initially been seen as a sign that the troubled regime was prepared to cede part of its absolute control in the country's affairs and allow some organised political dissent.

Some opposition figures refused to attend, fearing that any sanctioned meeting in the midst of a brutal crackdown on the four-month uprising would be used by the government to establish new credentials for openness without actually committing to widespread reform.

International pressure on the regime to give ground to demonstrators who continue to take to the streets of Syria's towns and cities remains intense, despite Damascus insisting at the weekend that frequent outbursts of deadly violence across the country were being caused by a large foreign-backed gang that is outmanoeuvring its formidable military.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/26/syria-damascus-opposition-meeting-talks

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