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Saturday, Nov 10, 2012 10:00 AM UTC

New Syria opposition chief wants no-strings aid

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Topics: From the Wires,

New Syria opposition chief wants no-strings aidSyrian regime opponent George Sabra , center, during the vote count of the election of the Executive Office of the Syrian National Council in Doha, Qatar, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Osama Faisal)(Credit: AP)

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The newly elected leader of Syria’s main opposition bloc is urging the international community to support those trying to topple President Bashar Assad’s regime without any conditions and not link aid to an overhaul of the opposition leadership.

George Sabra, head of the Syrian National Council, says he and other opposition figures are disappointed with foreign backers.

Sabra tells The Associated Press that “unfortunately, we get nothing from them, except some statements, some encouragement” while Assad’s allies “give the regime everything.”

Hours after his election, Sabra is heading talks Saturday with rival opposition groups on forging a new, broader opposition leadership group. The SNC is reluctant to join such a group, fearing a loss of influence.

Sabra, a Christian, spent years in Assad jails and fled Syria a year ago.

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