Syria's main rebel group said yesterday that it had postponed a decision on forming a government-in-exile at its meeting in Istanbul.
The organisation, which has so far found it almost impossible to agree on anything significant, said that it needs guarantees of support from dissident forces on the ground inside Syria.
The Syrian National Council, a key part of the opposition, said that a five-member panel had been formed at Sunday's meeting to consult concerned parties, including the Free Syria Army and "friendly countries."
The council is an influential member of the National Coalition, which was set up in Doha in November in a bid to unify opposition forces fighting President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
The coalition has since been recognised by scores of states and organisations outside Syria as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people.
But recognition from inside Syria's borders has not been so easy to come by.
The 22-month revolt has been racked by political schisms and unmet promises of financial and military aid by foreign countries have not helped.
The council said that the five-member committee would also look into "the extent of opposition and international commitment in order for the work to be financially and politically feasible."
The panel includes, among others, National Coalition chief Moaz al-Khatib, Syrian National Council head George Sabra and prominent Paris-based dissident Burhan Ghalioun.
The opposition is due to meet again on January 28 in Paris, along with representatives of some 20 countries that back the revolt.
But unless the committee makes significant headway in its discussions with the rebel fighting groups there is likely to be little to talk about.
And the rebel fighters are more concerned with significant armaments than words from exile politicians.
UN figures estimate that 60,000 people have been killed so far in the conflict that erupted in March 2011
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