Arabic news network Al Jazeera reports that the Arab League has expressed its support for a newly formed Syrian opposition umbrella group.

Foreign ministers from Arab League member states acknowledged the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces as the legal representative and main interlocutor for Syria's opposition in a meeting held in Cairo on Tuesday.

In an interview with Reuters, the head of the Syrian opposition coalition, Mouaz al-Khatib, appealed to Europe to back his organization, saying that Europe’s political recognition of the coalition could facilitate the resolution of the bloody situation in Syria.

The U.S. and France were quick to respond to the Syrian opposition leader’s request, saying that they would recognize the opposition coalition as the interim government of Syria.