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Subscribe to RSSSyrian rebels claim to have seized a key crossing point on the Syria-Turkey border, which could create an access point for weapons and fighters to enter the country and an exit point for refugees. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports from Cairo.
Updated at 5:37 p.m. ET — Thousands of Syrians fled their country on Friday in one of the biggest refugee exoduses of the 20-month civil war after rebels seized a border town, and the United Nations warned that millions more still in Syria will need help as winter sets in.
In Qatar, the main opposition group outside Syria elected a new leader. However, it will start talks on Saturday with other factions, including representatives of rebels fighting President Bashar Assad's forces, on forming a wider body that hopes to gain international recognition as a government-in-waiting.
The U.N. said 11,000 refugees had fled in 24 hours, mostly to Turkey. The influx caused alarm in Ankara, which is worried about its ability to cope with such large numbers and has pushed hard, so far without success, for a buffer zone to be set up inside Syria where refugees could be housed.
Rebels overran the frontier town of Ras al-Ain late on Thursday, continuing a drive that has already seen them push Assad's troops from much of the north and seize several crossing points, a rebel commander and opposition sources said.
"The crossing is important because it opens another line to Turkey, where we can send the wounded and get supplies," said Khaled al-Walid, a commander in the Raqqa rebel division.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based group that compiles opposition activist reports, said at least 20 members of the Syrian security forces were killed when rebel fighters attacked a security headquarters in Ras al-Ain.
Thousands of residents poured out of the Arab and Kurd town, in the northeastern oil-producing province of Hasaka, 375 miles from Damascus.
Syria's opposition SNC elects new head
The Syrian National Council, the main opposition body outside the country, elected veteran activist George Sabra as its new head in Doha on Friday.
Thousands have fled violence in Syria in the last 24 hours, with many Syrian refugees now sheltering in Turkish camps. In his latest interview, Syrian President Assad says his army is trying to avoid civilian deaths. NBC's John Ray reports.
Sabra, a Christian, takes over a body that is under heavy criticism from international allies for being ineffective in the fight against Assad and for being plagued by personal disputes.
Sabra appealed for arms to fight Assad's forces. "We need only one thing to support our right to survive and to protect ourselves: we need weapons, we need weapons," he told reporters.
Qatar, the United States and other powers are pressing the fractious Syrian opposition groups to come together and the SNC has agreed to open unity talks, although it fears its influence will be diluted in any new body.
Western countries and Syria's neighbors fear that hardline Islamist groups close to al-Qaida are growing in influence among rebels on the ground in Syria.
An outline agreement could see the SNC and other opposition figures agree on a 60-member political assembly, mirroring the Transitional National Council in Libya, which united opposition to Moammar Gadhafi last year and took power when he fell.
Refugee exodus
In Geneva, a senior U.N. official highlighted the plight of Syrians still in the country. An estimated four million people would need humanitarian aid by early next year when the country is in the grip of winter, up from 2.5 million now, said John Ging, director of operations at the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
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A look back at the violence that has overtaken the country
"Every day our humanitarian colleagues on the ground are engaging with people who are ever more desperate, ever more fearful for their lives and for the lives of their families because of this conflict," Ging told a news conference. "Since this crisis has begun we have not been able to keep pace with the increasing need."
The latest flight of refugees raised the total recorded by the U.N. to over 408,000 in Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq and North Africa.
At least 38,000 people have been killed since the revolt against Assad erupted nearly 20 months ago, according to Observatory data.
The Turkish state-run Anatolian news agency reported Friday that 26 Syrian military officers had also arrived in Turkey with their families overnight, in the biggest mass desertion of senior soldiers from Assad's forces in months.
Efforts to end the bloodshed have been dogged by regional and international rifts, as well as by divisions between civilian and armed opposition factions inside and outside Syria.
Analysis: US loses patience with Syria opposition group
'Sole legitimate representative'
A source inside Doha meetings that lasted into the early hours of Friday morning told Reuters that members of the Syrian National Council (SNC), a group made up mainly of exiled politicians, had shifted views and were coming to accept the need to form a wider body.
Machine guns operated by motorcycle brakes? Get a glimpse at the rebels fighting against Assad's forces in Syria's mountainous Jabal al-Zawiya area.
"We will not leave today without an agreement," the source told Reuters. "The body will be the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. Once they get international recognition, there will be a fund for military support."
Damascus bomb kills at least 15, groups say
The SNC, which has previously been the main opposition group on the international stage, may have about one-third of the seats in the new body, but would otherwise lose much of its influence.
Foreign countries that oppose Assad are determined to push Syrian opposition figures to cooperate, which means bridging gaps between exiles and those working in Syria, and between liberals and increasingly powerful Islamist militants.
The West and its regional allies worry that if Assad were to fall before the opposition unites behind a credible body capable of leading the country, increasingly powerful Islamist militia would quickly take over Syria.
NBC News
People resisting the army of President Bashar Assad in northern Syria cope with loss and prepare for fighting.
New pressure after Obama’s re-election
Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for overhauling the opposition amid eroding faith in the SNC, saying there needed to be representation of those "on the frontlines and dying." British Prime Minister David Cameron also signaled international pressure to unite the opposition.
UK PM: Safe exit for Syria's Assad 'could be arranged'
Pressure on the opposition to unite increased further this week after the re-election of President Barack Obama, which removed uncertainty about the U.S. position.
A diplomat familiar with the talks said that throughout the week the SNC had shifted towards taking international pressure more seriously, especially after Obama's victory.
Analysis: Election over, Obama inbox overflows with world crises
"The Americans felt a swagger after the results of the election and Obama's win. No one can dismiss them anymore, because they are staying," he told Reuters, adding that a State Department official sat in on Thursday meetings.
"But reaching a real deal over the initiative will also depend on who joins this assembly from the SNC, which will have no real influence after that," the diplomat said.
In an interview with a Russian television channel, Syrian President Bashir Assad vowed to live and die in Syria, even as a 19-month old uprising against him rages. NBC's Ayman Mohyeldin reports.
The SNC is due Friday to complete elections to its executive council and choose a new leader, before continuing talks with Seif, representatives of rebel groups and other political factions on forming the new assembly.
Complete World coverage on NBCNews.com
Assad told Russia Today television on Thursday he would "live and die in Syria," comments that echoed the words of other Arab leaders before they lost power in 2011.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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So they are going to get a president who has spent the last few decades in Atlanta; I thought so.
They don't seem to be as smart as the Libyan rebels. Admittedly the West gave them a lot of tactical help, but they organized themselves and set up shop on their own. The Syrian rebels looks like they're going to go the way of most ME opposition groups and drown in their own internal conflict.
Note that this article fails to mention that no women were chosen to be members of the executive council of this pack of Sunni mercenaries. Non-Sunnis tremble at the prospect of these Islamists taking over from the secular and tolerant Assad.
Apparently you don't read well, do you:
I emphasized a single word of information you missed in your movement to hate.
Hope people have learnt from Iraqi wars, Afghan war, Libyan rebellion and other cases.
These ME Sunni Muslims are most ungrateful and biggest backstabbers. Look at past experiences.
Kick out that Syrian Observatory for Human rights from UK. It is a front cover for Sunni Syrian rebels, Sunni Saudi, Qatari and other barbarian and beastly bigoted Sunni rulers' Islamic killer fronts like al Qaida, MB, Salaffi and others.
What do these bigoted seventh century Sunni haters and killers know about "human rights", "children and women", "democracy" and other big words?
Jonathan-1982062-Hope people have learnt from Iraqi wars, Afghan war, Libyan rebellion and other cases.
If man learned anything from past wars or cases, it is that they never cease. People will always find reasons to fight against one another. From failure to learn from others mistakes, selfishness, to lusting after power. This is the very nature of man, who is at war with himself. Until he learns how to rule over himself, and makes peace within, there will never be peace throughout his species.
What do these bigoted seventh century Sunni haters and killers know about "human rights", "children and women", "democracy" and other big words?
They know that sitting back and talking will not make a better world when an enemy is approaching outside your home. That over the centuries, to survive it will be those who have the power, or threaten from such a position, for better or worse, that are usually the ones who survive against another source of power which threatens ones life or others who matter to you. Without enough power and the right leadership to lead, life can turn deadly quite quickly.
It is easy to speak of human rights violations in other countries when one lives in a peaceful society not besieged by war. It is much harder when someone busts down your front door and kills your family. In not so ancient days, it was seen as better to kill your enemy, even if they were still too young to raise the sword, than wait until they could kill your women and children while you were away. Mercy was seen as weakness because it could literally bring death to ones people. However, it didn't stop many from showing it.
We are also applying our morals to cultures going back hundreds to thousands of years. Yet we reap the benefits from such slaughters today. Not even realizing how much we have been given.Genghis Khan and one of his sons carved a path of bloodshed and conquest through Eurasia to Eastern Europe.With Hungry, Russia and Poland seized. While just beginning on Austria and Germany when fate stepped in the invasion stopped short of taking over all of Europe. But the aftermath of killing and devastation between all those countries created new trade routes for commerce, communication of ideas, inventions and the rapid spread of people immigrating across the face of countries now open up to resettlement.
Because they had wiped out so many, with refuges fleeing those lands, just like these Syrian people fleeing into Turkey, a great mixing occurred.Allowing the creation of the Elizabethan renaissance, world exploration and explosion of knowledge in every field. This never happened in China, which stagnated with only the Silk Road. It would remain so until European sailing ships arrived hundreds of years later to open the whole world to them.
Everyone deserves those essential human rights that come to mind. And the right to live and believe as they choose, (when it doesn't harm others) ,throughout the world. But there will always be those who strive to take what they want from others. There is no such thing as a clean bloodless war. All we have now is better weapons, not better natures to go along with them.For those fleeing from the violence happening right now, it is a reminder, not everyone wants war, or supports those who are extremists. Just regular, peace seeking human beings, desperately wanting to raise their families in a land that isn't filled with violence constantly. How ironic it seems so many Americans have a need to feed their appetite for violence in our amusements and recreational outlets.
If Sunnis can’t tolerate a very good leader, like Assad, then Shiites should not accept Sunni rulers either. Sunni rulers have been treating girls, women, Shiites, Sufis, Ahemdias and minorities worse than slaves.
Time has come for all of us to stand up and battle for liberations from Sunni barbarians and beasts.
So this means Shiites should ask for their Shiastans wherever they form more than 10 percent.
They should start their liberation struggles from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan (20 percent), Qatar, Oman and other places which have Sunni rulers.
What a bunch of cowards Shiites are? They talk big, act big and show their bravery before unarmed minorities like Jews, women and others. Then they add their dances when they stone them.
Shiites of Iraq should side with Kurds and should stop oil supplies to Turkey for supporting the Sunni Islamic extremists like al-Qaida, MB in Syria.
Shiites of Bahrain should overthrow their autocratic, corrupt and despotic Sunni ruler.
As they have been taking blows and killings by Sunnis, these Sunnis are able to act as they like to Shiites.
Shiites of Iran should side with Assad and see that all the Sunni rebels are eliminated.
What are the brave Hezbollah doing?
They should do suicide bombings in Mecca and Medina. Or else Shiites genocides just like the genocides of non-Muslims by the Sunni Islamic religious Nazis will continue.
Why are they leaving. Isn't this a popular revolution of the people. Maybe we should send help like we did in Libya.
Hope they don't come to the USA or EU. We have enough with illegal immigrants and economic asylum seekers and muslims.
With Obama in office I noticed a lot of happy smiles on the faces of muslims and latinos in the USA?
and? People other than you aren't allowed to be happy, or vote for their own interests?
With Obama in office, I noticed a lot of frounds on Republicans & Conservative minions' faces. Still shellshocked?
Get over it, quit whining and move on. Majority Americans & Electorates decided. Democracy RULES!
Tell this to my fellow Freedom of Speech lovers, Ann Coulter, Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly, etc.
I also list Maddow, Matthews, Obermann, Jackson, Sharpton, etc., but THEY WON! So they are not whining....yet. Both Libs/Cons counter-whine anyways.
I am an Registered Independent, and have voted both ways. I watch & suspect BOTH Parties.
Time for the Democrat's to send in FEMA, like they did in the elections (POTUS photo op and sound bites to aid those on the East Coast)! Oops, they already have the UN, so why lend any support! {:-(}
Give it a rest, the Election is over.
Send in FEMA to a foreign country...you don't really even bother thinking before commenting, do you.
Everything the President does is a photo op, and everything he doesn't do is a talking point. He can't not send help to NY, and people feel better when their elected leaders at least show up and look like they care. That's as much a part of the job as actually sending resources and aid - or perhaps you neglected to notice the mobilization of troops for security and support in the NYC/NJ area? I have a few friends in the National Guard down there right now, guarding gas, repairing infrastructure or handing out food and water. I guess that's all just for show as well, in your mind.
For Assad to know that there is already a government-in-waiting, that must be a pretty creepy feeling for him, kinda like a Temp worker.
Don't worry. Obama is flying off to Cambodia and Burma and Viet Nam.
Present
Hilary can handle this mess.