经过几次努力失败之后，阿萨德总统的对手最终创建了独立的机构，叙利亚全国委员会。组织者表示，他们已经拟定了每一个相关的政治组织或个人，起草了700人的名单，并从中选择了140人在全国委员会担任职务。其中一半的人来自在叙利亚境内运作的组织。全国委员会将建立理事会来处理外国关系等任务。叙利亚全国委员会不可避免地要被拿来与利比亚过渡委员会作比较，但是叙利亚异见分子面临的挑战要严峻的多。

The US State Department has repeated its warning to all American citizens to leave Syria immediately while it's still possible to travel out of the country. It says the Syrian government's violent suppression of peaceful protests has left the country in a state of uncertainty and volatility. The authorities are preparing for more demonstrations on Friday.

美国国务院再次提醒所有美国公民，趁现在仍然可能出境，立即离开叙利亚。国务院表示，叙利亚政府对和平抗议活动的暴力镇压使得这个国家已经陷入动荡状态。相关部门已经准备在周五再次发动示威活动。

Washington has stepped up efforts to dissuade the Palestinians from applying for full membership of the United Nations at the UN General Assembly next week. The American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said there was a growing recognition among the parties that [the] only real answer was negotiations. And in a BBC interview, the US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said a unilateral bid for statehood would set back prospects for real talks.