Syrian Opposition Opens First Embassy

A Syrian opposition bloc opened its first embassy in Qatar in what was seen as a blow to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. The opening came a day after opposition leader Moaz Alkhatib, a Sunni Muslim cleric took Syria’s seat at an Arab summit in Doha. He said he is frustrated with the international community’s unwillingness to arm the rebels in Syria. “There is an international willingness for the revolution not to triumph,” he told reporters at the embassy, which had dozens of balloons in the red, green, black and white of Syria’s national flag. “The only way to victory is unity.” Alkhatib resigned this week as leader of the Syrian National Coalition but is staying on as caretaker. Assad’s government attacked Qatar and the Arab League for allowing the embassy to open.