Istanbul (AINA) -- The Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO) has been officially accepted as a member of the National Coalition for the Revolutionary Forces and the Syrian Opposition. The ADO is represented in the 67 member body of the coalition by Mr. Ablahad Astepho and Mr. Sanharib Mirza. By accepting the ADO, the Coalition officially recognizes Assyrians as an integral component in the composition of any future Syrian government.

Mr. Astepho was formerly the secretary of ADO Europe and is currently a member of the Executive Committee of the Syrian National Council. Mr. Mirza is the ADO liaison to the Syrian National Council.

The Secretariat of the Coalition met on January 19 and 20 in Istanbul for the temporary formation of the Syrian government and the selection of members of the political bureau. But members of the coalition could not agree on the composition of the government. The dispute was over whether to accept Riad Hijab as the head of the interim government. The decision was tabled until the next meeting.