Syrian opposition leader a moderate cleric

BEIRUT -- Syria's political opposition has struggled to prove its relevance amid the civil war under a leadership largely made up of academics and exiled politicians. With its relaunch as a new organization, it has taken a different tack: choosing as its head a popular Muslim cleric who preaches sectarian unity and can fire up a crowd.

The selection of a moderate religious figure, Mouaz al-Khatib, to head the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces is also an attempt to counter the growing influence of Islamic extremists in the rebellion against President Bashar Assad.

A Sunni Muslim and former preacher at Damascus' historic Ummayad Mosque, al-Khatib warned against the militarization of the Syrian uprising and the pitfalls of sectarianism very early in the conflict.

"My brothers, we lived all our lives, Sunnis, Shiites, Alawites and Druse as a one-hearted community, and with us lived our dear brothers who follow Jesus, peace be upon him," he told a crowd of supporters in a Damascus suburb in April 2011, only one month into the uprising.

"We should adhere to this bond between us and protect it at all times."

Under intense international pressure to form an opposition that includes representatives from the country's disparate factions fighting to topple Assad, the anti-government groups struck a deal Sunday to form the coalition headed by al-Khatib.

France on Tuesday became the first Western country to formally recognize the opposition coalition. The United States recognized the leadership body as a legitimate representative, but stopped short of describing it as the "sole" one. U.S. officials say the group must first demonstrate its ability to represent Syrians inside the country.