Syria opposition to hold conference in Qatar amid 'Assad rehabilitation efforts'

Syrian opposition factions will participate in a two-day conference in the Qatari capital Doha starting on Saturday alongside think tanks and civil society groups.

The event, named "Syria to Where?", will also be attended by independent opposition figures of all stripes.

The organising committee said: "This event coincides with the tireless efforts made by the regime and its allies to rehabilitate Bashar Al-Assad, which necessitates a look at ways to address the country's situation, and means of implementing relevant United Nations decisions."

The organising committee is led by Riad Hijab, previously prime minister for the Assad regime and now a senior figure among the opposition after dramatically defecting in 2012.

Syria to Where? will be comprised of eight sessions to agree on recommendations for realising an opposition vision for addressing the political, humanitarian and economic crises in Syria.

It also seeks to rescue the country's political transition, according to the organising committee.

Announcement of the conference comes as some Arab states have started to normalise ties with Syria, and UN-directed talks meant to produce new national constitution and elections are at a standstill.