Syria's exiled opposition groups convening in the Qatari capital of Doha have signed an initial agreement to form a new coalition called the National Coalition for the Opposition Forces, reports said Sunday.

The new coalition is mainly composed of opposition groups outside Syria as those inside Syria are not present at the meetings in Doha.

Western media reported that a night session on Sunday is set to elect the head of the newly-founded body and his deputy.

The opposition groups have been holding meetings for days in the Qatari capital, exploring ways to bridge gaps and fractures among themselves.

Earlier in the day, Salem al-Maslet, a leading member of the Syrian National Council (SNC), the main opposition umbrella, said the new coalition would include 60 seats, 22 of which are to be selected from the SNC.

The signing of the initial agreement came on the heels of increased international efforts aiming to push the Syrian opposition to set up a united entity that could effectively confront President Bashar al-Assad's government.