Syrian Alawite opposition distance themselves from Bashars regime

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(24 Mar 2013) • 1. Wide of the meeting • 2. Various of members of the Alawite sect who are opposed to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's regime • 3. Close of opposition figure and spokesman for the Syrian National Coalition Walid Al Bunni at the meeting • 4. Mid of Alawites at the meeting • 5. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Walid Al Bunni, Syrian National Coalition spokesman: • I believe that this meeting's main goal is to send a message to the world to show them that the truth is that the regime is not the one protecting minority groups in Syria and that the Alawite cult is in danger if this regime stays in power. Yesterday we issued an important statement that clarified that the Syrian people are united disregarding the different ethnic backgrounds and that the regime is trying to create a civil war for it's own benefit (to have a reason to stay in power) • 6. Mid of cameramen during the meeting • STORYLINE: • Members of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect met in Cairo on Sunday in an attempt to distance themselves from the Damascus regime in its crack down on the Syrian revolution. • Organisers described the two day meeting as the first of its kind to discuss concerns about the fate of Alawites in a post-Assad Syria. • Rebels fighting to end Assad's rule are mostly from the country's majority Sunni sect. Assad is Alawite, a Shiite offshoot of Islam. • Members of the Alawite community who make up about 12 percent of Syria's population have either rallied behind Assad or stayed quietly on the sidelines of the civil war. • A Syrian National Coalition spokesman said the goal of the meeting was to show the world that the Assad regime is not the only one offering protection minority groups in Syria. • The Alawite cult is in danger if this regime stays in power, said Walid Al Bunni. • The meeting of about 50 Alawites reflects fear the minority would fall victim to revenge killings and assassinations should Assad's regime fall. • • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

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