Syria's failure to implement "behavior changes," as perceived by the Bush administration, has prompted the creation of the Syrian National Council.

Created by a group of Syrians living in the United States who are opposed to the regime of Bashar Assad, the SNC is aimed at uniting opposition groups and national parties in a concentrated effort to bring about democratic change in Syria.

"It is clear that the Syrian regime, in order to divert (Syrians) from rising against them, they talk about implementing reforms without tackling the real political and economic issues," said Mohammad Aljbili, spokesman for the Syrian National Council.

The SNC, based in Washington held meetings with U.S. State Department officials, asking the United States to aid the Council in its quest to bring democracy to Syria. The SNC is calling for the United States to expose crimes committed by the Syrian regime by "showing their true magnitude to the international community and legally prosecute those who committed such crimes."

Najib Alghadban, a member of the SNC executive committee, who attended one of the meetings with the State Department, said the Bush administration is looking to promote democratic change and human rights in Syria.

Although U.S. officials have made no formal endorsement of the SNC, the exiled Syrian group is optimistic of U.S. support after Condoleezza Rice expressed interest in Cairo that she would be willing to meet with representatives of the Syrian opposition.

"One hundred and seventy-nine Syrian academics and human rights activists are calling upon their government to 'let the Damascus spring flower, and let its flowers bloom,' " said Rice in a speech at the American University of Cairo. "Syria's leaders should embrace this call, and learn to trust their people."

Aljbili said the SNC's main purpose is not to rally U.S. officials' support, but to work for change from the Syrian government by the Syrian people.

"We are not against meeting with State Department officials or the Congress or the White House," said Aljbili, "but we're not going to impose ourselves on them."

The next step for the SNC, according to Aljbili, is to create a forum that will unite Syrian opposition groups and eventually remove Article 8 of Syria's constitution -- stating the Socialist Arab Baath Party is the leading Syrian political party -- creating instead a multi-party democratic political system.

The immediate goals of the SNC includes the release of political prisoners, amending Article 8, and conducting free and fair elections.

However, in a speech to the Syrian Parliament, President Bashar Assad foresaw the recent Baath Party Conference as a "great turning point" for the Syrian government.

Recently, Syrian security services have closed Al-Atassi Political Forum for National Dialogue, Syria's only remaining political forum. This resulted in much antagonism by the Arab Organization for Human Rights because the order to close the forum came from the Baath Party.

"As of now there is no legal party in Syria," said Aljbili. "The Syrian regime is defined as a de facto regime by international law."

"We are looking for complete regime change in Syria, not reform change," said Alghadban. "We're willing to work with Ikhwan (Muslim Brotherhood) or any movement that is willing to advance our interest."

The SNC say U.S. officials told them they would be willing to work with any opposition organization so long as it supported human rights, women's rights, and would accept democratic change in Syria.

Aljbili also denies ties to Rifaat Assad, the uncle of the current president. An Arabic language publication accused him of cooperating with Assad in plotting his return to Syria to take over the regime. His brother, former President Hafez Assad, forced Rifaat Assad into exile in 1984.

"I think whenever you talk about opposition and change -- especially for those in Syria -- a lot of people immediately think of the Iraqi case," said Alghadban.

Alghadban said the SNC opposes U.S. military intervention or any other foreign military action to bring about democratic change in Syria. Rather, its policy is to bring about an uprising from within Syria.

"I don't feel that the U.S. government is looking to duplicate Iraq in Syria," said Aljbili.

But "In the interest of the United States, and for our interest as Syrians, as Arabs, as nationalists," said Mohammed Alkhawam, executive member of the SNC. "This regime is due for change."