Syria Opposition Chief Invited to U.S. after Recognition

The head of the Syrian National Coalition has been invited for talks in Washington following U.S. recognition of the opposition bloc as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, a senior U.S. envoy said on Wednesday.

"We have extended an invitation to (Ahmed) Moaz al-Khatib and the Coalition leadership to visit Washington at the earliest opportunity," Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said in Morocco, where he was attending a meeting of the Friends of Syria group.

"The United States joined our partners in taking an important step forward," Burns added, referring to the long-awaited move announced by President Barack Obama on Tuesday.

"We have now recognized the Syrian opposition council as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people."