Opponents of President Bashar al Assad of Syria have formed a single body to represent them.
The move was announced at a meeting in Turkey exactly six months after the start of the protests against the Assad regime.
A BBC correspondent says it is the first time one organisation has the full backing of all opposition groups inside and outside the country. It will now represent the opposition.
The council aims to organise and give a public face to protests against Mr Assad. It will also aim to co-ordinate policies against him.
According to the United Nations, more than 2200 people have been killed in Syria since anti-government protests began more than five months ago.