Syrian major opposition bloc, the Syrian National Council (SNC), elected George Sabra as its new head during a meeting here on Friday.

The SNC and some other exiled opposition groups have been meeting in the Qatari capital for almost a week to discuss forming a wider opposition body. The groups are expected to announce their final decision within hours on a proposal for forming a united opposition front to help end the 20-month Syrian crisis and establish a transitional government headed by prominent dissident Riad Seif.

Earlier, President Al Assad announced that he will not leave Syria in any circumstance while warning that the intervention of the West in the country’s crisis will cause serious impacts on security and stability in the region.

In another development, an official from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said around 150 representatives from 60 countries will attend an international seminar in Tokyo this month to put pressure on President Assad’s regime.