Syria: Hague To Meet Anti-Government Groups In London

Syrian Opposition Groups to Meet Foreign Secretary At Number 10

Syria's rebel leaders are to meet foreign Secretary William Hague in London on Monday, according to reports.

The move marks a significant step for anti-government forces in the restive state who have been protesting against the regime of President Bashar al Assad since March

"We have been having regular contacts with a variety of figures in the Syrian opposition for several months. We are now intensifying these," a Foreign Office official told Reuters.

Though the meeting will fall short of offering the exiled leadership of Syria's opposition groups any formal diplomatic recognition, the dialogue is expected to detail plans for the transfer of power should the increasingly beleaguered regime fall.

The news of Monday's meeting came as Syrian authorities reportedly sent a message to the Arab League accepting their proposal to provide oversight to a peace plan aimed at ending the violence between the regime and the protesters.

The three-part strategy, drawn up earlier this month, includes withdrawing troops and tanks from the cities of Homs and Hama, ending the attacks on protesters and opening a dialogue between authorities and anti-government forces.

Assad agreed to abide by the plan when it was first proposed, however the bloodshed continued, with reports suggesting that more than 400 people died in November alone.

According to an unnamed BBC source, the plan to allow international observers to oversee the peace process has now been accepted by Damascus, subject to some changes designed to protect "the country's sovereignty and dignity".

The move follows the League's ultimatum delivered on Wednesday to accept oversight or face further sanctions.

On Saturday, the league took the unexpected step of suspending Syria's membership of the 22-state organisation.

It has not been reported when the civilian and military monitors will be sent into Syria.

On Wednesday, members of the Free Syrian Army attacked a military base outside Damascus, the most audacious attack by anti-government forces since the unrest began in March.

On Saturday, thousands of pro-government demonstrators took to the street of the capital in a show of support for Assad, resulting in attacks on the embassies of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

According to United Nations estimates, more than 3,500 people have died in Syria since the unrest began.

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