Opposition parties criticise interim government

Syrian opposition parties have slammed the main National Coalition rebel group's move to form an interim government and take up the country's long-vacant seat at the Arab League (AL).Opposition factions described the action as "brazen", saying "the establishment of a provisional government was a prelude to fragmenting Syria and pitting the Syrian people against each other."Whoever took Syria's seat in such a fabricated way would be conspiring with external forces who wanted to see Syria divided, as the move complicated the internal crisis and blocked efforts for a peaceful solution, the Damascus-based Building Syria State party said Monday."Countries who support the coalition in taking up the seat are sparing no efforts to divide Syria," Building Syria State said in a commentary, apparently referring to the National Coalition's key backers, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.According to reports, the National Coalition, which chose Ghassan Hitto as the "interim prime minister" last Tuesday, has been invited to the AL's annual summit in Doha, Qatar, and would occupy Syria's seat. The announcement drew furious reactions in Damascus.Syria's membership in the Arab body was suspended in November 2011 after it failed to implement an Arab deal designed to end violence against protesters.The two-day summit of the 22-member bloc starts Tuesday. However, as analysts expected, Arab nations are far from reaching consensus due to rifts over support for the various Syrian opposition factions.Earlier this month, the Arab organization called on the coalition to set up an executive body to take up Syria's seat and attend the summit. However, Lebanon, Iraq and Algeria refused to endorse the decision, warning it was against the AL Charter.Another opposition figure, Mazen Moughrabieh, told Xinhua forming a provisional government was a foolish step and an attempt to copy the Libyan model."Syria is at a dangerous crossroads," he said. "If we can not reach a peaceful political solution, we will head towards a full-fledged civil war."Meanwhile, the Western-backed National Coalition was thrown into chaos Sunday when its leader, Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib resigned, a move some sources attributed to the Hitto move. However, Khatib said a day later he would make a speech at the summit "in the name of the Syrian people."Coinciding with Khatib's resignation and adding to the fragmentation of opposition forces, the Free Syria Army announced its refusal to recognize Hitto as head of the interim government.Anis al-Naqqash, a Lebanese political analyst, also accused some countries in the region of pushing the National Coalition to form a provisional government and take up the AL seat, saying it was "pouring oil on the flames".