Members of the Syrian National Council (SNC) an alliance of groups fighting in opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, commenced three days of talks on Saturday, in Rome.
Representatives of the various groups remain in disagreement regarding the future leadership of the current President of the SNC, Burhan Ghalioun.
Speaking to the Reuters news agency in Rome, Samir Nashir, a representative of the Dasmascus Declaration group, expressed support for a change of leadership. Nashir said,
"We are in heated discussions over the presidency ... We are against an extension or a renewal of Burhan Ghalioun's term,"
"We are in favour of transition because it gives all the various Syrian political components a chance in the post,"
"The SNC wants to send a clear message to all components of the Syrian community, Alawite, Christians, Druze and all the minorities, that the SNC is not a council for Muslims only as the regime seeks to portray it,"
The Italian governmnent said the talks were arranged to "guarantee them [opposition activists] the chance to meet, dialogue and broaden participation, religious and otherwise, of anti-regime figures."
