The declaration said the groups and political figures hoped to "establish a national democratic regime (for) ... change and peaceful political reform based on dialogue."

The five opposition parties are the Arab nationalist National Democratic Gathering, the Kurdish Democratic Alliance, the Committees of Civil Society, the Kurdish Democratic Front and the Future Party.

The signatories of the declaration said Sunday they are committed to rejecting "totalitarian ideology and violence" in the political practice.

They also said that "Islam is the religion of the majority" but they stressed respect of other's beliefs and cultures whatever their religion or ideology were.

The statement comes as Syria is under extreme U.S. pressure to stop interfering in Lebanon's affairs and allowing foreign fighters to cross into Iraq..

They called for a "fair solution for the Kurdish issue in Syria in a way insures the equality of Kurds with all other Syrian citizens" on the basis of unified Syria.

About 1.5 million Kurds live in Syria, a nation of 18.5 million. About 160,000 Kurds in the country are denied Syrian citizenship and complain of harassment and persecution by Syrian security authorities.

The Declaration commits its signatories to "end the emergency law" and the release of all political prisoners as well as the return of exiles. Emergency laws were put in place 42 years ago.

The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, based in London, announced in a separate statement its "total support for the Damascus Declaration" in anticipation of the organization of "a national congress on the path of democratic and peaceful change."

Since he came to power in 2000, Syrian President Bashar Assad has released hundreds of political prisoners and passed laws aimed at liberalizing the state-controlled economy. But he also clamped down on pro-democracy activists.(AP-AFP)