Syrian opposition factions signed an agreement in Qatar on November 11, 2012, to create a new umbrella grouping, the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (the National Coalition).

The unity accord states that the National Coalition “supports the unification of the revolutionary military councils under the leadership of a supreme military council,” will establish a “national judicial commission,” and will “form a provincial government after gaining international recognition.”

“Ending abuses by armed members of the opposition should be a top priority for the new coalition,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.

Human Rights Watch has documented more than a dozen summary executions by opposition forces, and torture and mistreatment in opposition-run detention facilities. Opposition leaders have told Human Rights Watch that they will respect human rights and that they have taken measures to curb the abuses, but there is no evidence that they have taken any steps.

On November 1, video evidence emerged that shows armed gunmen affiliated with the opposition apparently carrying out a mass summary killing of men in their custody. In the footage, the members of the armed group open fire on and kill at least 10 men. According to the opposition groups, the footage was filmed after opposition fighters captured the Hamisho government checkpoint near Saraqeb, Idlib.

The video of the execution was first posted on the Der` al-Jabal brigade YouTube channel but was taken down after a public outcry about the executions. The same channel added two new videos on November 4 that were apparently taken from the soldiers operating the Hamisho checkpoint showing them drinking and dancing the day before the attack. The Dawud Batallion also posted a video montage of the entire operation to take over the Hamisho checkpoint. Human Rights Watch is unable to confirm the veracity of these videos.

“Syria’s new opposition coalition needs to make it clear that it envisions a Syria that turns the page on violations by armed gunmen,” Whitson said.

In statements to the media, the Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Hassem Al-Thani, called for the National Coalition to be recognized as the only legitimate representative of the Syrian people. On November 12 Abdulatif al-Zayani, the Gulf Cooperation Council secretary general, announced that it would recognize the National Coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

Today, November 13, the European Union and the League of Arab States meet in Cairo to discuss providing support to the National Coalition. The United Kingdom foreign secretary, William Hague, has also announced that on November 16 the UK will host a donor meeting with representatives from the National Coalition to discuss support.