Syrian regime opponent Abdel Baset Seda, center, speaks with one of the participants during the meeting of the General Assembly of the Syrian National Council in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Nov 4, 2012.(AP Photo/Osama Faisal)

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — An organizer says the main Syrian opposition bloc, the Syrian National Council, has voted to broaden its membership to include more activists and political groups from inside the country.

Up to now, the SNC has largely been made up of exiles, prompting criticism it is out of touch with those risking their lives to topple President Bashar Assad.

Anas Abdah, an organizer of an SNC conference in Doha, says a majority of 222 delegates approved the additions Monday, nearly doubling the size of the group's general assembly to some 420.

The U.S. and others have urged the SNC to become more representative. However, Monday's vote may not be enough to avert a U.S.-backed plan to set up a new leadership group in which the SNC would play a lesser role.

Associated Press
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