Arabi Urges Syria Opposition to Unite: Regime Won't Remain for Long

Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime will not stay in power for long, Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi said on Wednesday, urging the opposition meeting in Qatar to put aside their differences.

"It is important to unify the opposition's visions, especially because everyone knows that the regime in Syria will not remain for long and one day there will be a new situation in Syria," he told reporters in Cairo.

Arabi was speaking as he prepared to travel to Doha for a meeting on Thursday of the Syrian opposition, whose backers hope will form a unified group to represent the almost 20-month revolt against Assad.

Preparations must start for a transitional government to be ready when "there are changes on the ground," said the Arab League secretary general.