Son of Syrian leader assassinated

DAMASCUS - The son of the Syrian National Party's leader was assassinated late Wednesday by armed groups near restive Homs, state-run SANA news agency reported.

Ismael Haidar, the son of Ali Haidar, an opposition leader advocating peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis, was shot dead along with his friend in a car on the road of al-Mahnaya that connects Homs to the town of Misyyaf in Hama province.

Ali Haidar and a number of other opposition leaders announced earlier on Wednesday the formation of a coalition composed of forces calling for a peaceful change in Syria.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the new coalition stressed its antagonist is the current Syrian government as well as the " negative aspects" of the anti-government movement, in reference to the armed attacks carried out by rebels against government troops and populated areas.

The coalition also reiterated the importance of national dialogue participated by all parties without foreign intervention.

The opposition coalition apparently forged a united front in the face of the broad-based opposition that has been calling for foreign intervention since the first months of Syria's turmoil.

The Syrian opposition at home is despised by rebel forces, due to its rejection to the growing trend of militarizing the Syrian crisis.