The various splinters of Syria’s opposition have reached an agreement to form a Western and Arab-backed government-in-exile and rally behind a new leader.

Representatives of Syria’s various opposition groups, including rebel fighters, veteran dissidents and religious and ethnic minorities, agreed on Sunday to join a new assembly and unanimously elected Mouaz al-Khatib, a reformist Damascus cleric, as its president.

The decision came after days of fierce arguments in Qatar, under the watch of frustrated US, Arab and other foreign officials.

Khatib, a former imam who advocates a liberal and tolerant Islam, called on all factions to unite and for soldiers to renounce the Syrian army, telling reporters:

"We demand freedom for every Sunni, Alawi, Ismaili (Shi'ite), Christian, Druze, Assyrian ... and rights for all parts of the harmonious Syrian people."

The move has been welcomed by foreign governments, who believe that the new assembly can serve as a legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

The Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim said:

"We will strive from now on to have this new body recognised completely by all parties ... as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people."

French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius hailed the deal, calling Assad’s government “the criminal regime in Damascus” and saying in a statement:

"France will work with its partners to secure international recognition of this new entity as the representative of the aspirations of the Syrian people."

Leader of the Syrian National Council, George Sabra said of Khatib’s election:

"This is a serious step against the regime and a serious step towards freedom."

See full report on Reuters here.