Mursi urges Syrians to unify ranks

in Mali.
“The Syrian regime must draw lessons from history: it is the people who remain. Those who put their personal interests above the interests of their people will end up leaving,” Mursi told heads of state and representatives of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Cairo.

Mursi called on opposition parties not allied to Syria’s National Coalition, which is recognised by the international community, “to co-ordinate with this coalition and support their efforts for a unified approach. . . for democracy.”

The meeting gathers leaders of 26 of the OIC’s 57 states, with Mursi, Egypt’s first Islamist president, assuming the organisation’s rotating presidency.

Though Syria is not represented at the conference, much of the debate was expected to focus on the conflict there in which according to the United Nations more than 60 000 people have died in almost 23 months.

According to a draft resolution, the gathering will call for “serious dialogue” between the Syrian opposition and government officials “not directly involved in oppression”. – AFP.