BEIRUT: A commotion over Syria’s independence or “rebel” flag marred Monday’s announcement of a joint platform by the opposition-in-exile National Coalition and a party headed by a veteran dissident who recently fled the country.

National Coalition president Khaled Khoja and Louay Hussein, the head of the Building the Syrian State group, addressed a news conference in Istanbul to highlight their rejection of any role for officials from the regime of President Bashar Assad in a transitional phase.

It was the first joint appearance by representatives of the two groups, after Hussein – formerly a leading figure in the so-called “tolerated” opposition – left Syria last month citing threats to his personal security.

But Hussein’s request that the independence flag be moved out of direct camera range for the news conference enraged rank-and-file supporters of the opposition, for whom the pre-Baath era flag is sacred.

“What happened today ... is unacceptable and we can’t remain silent about it,” said the Syrian Revolution General Commission, a leading national network of anti-regime activists.

The SRGC and other supporters of the uprising complained that the Coalition easily bowed to pressure by Hussein over the flag – while anti-regime activists inside the country have been waging their own, more dangerous battle, to ensure the flag is not overshadowed by the religious-themed flags of many rebel militias.

“It is dangerous to see the removal of the flag for the sake of an ‘opposition figure’ who recently exited the bosom of the [Assad] gang,” the SRGC said.

Hussein addressed the issue by saying he believed the current national flag represents the Syrian people and not the Baath regime.

Khoja was also obliged to defend himself, by tweeting a photo of the event with the flag in view, commenting: “The presence of the flag on my right is a source of pride, and I look forward to the day it is adopted by all opposition forces and [rebel] factions.”

Several opposition groups demanded public apologies – and even Khoja’s resignation – as news of the incident spread.

Hussein’s flight has enraged many Syrians who saw him as a credible, veteran dissident who was firmly opposed to the Turkey-based Coalition and the military uprising. But for many supporters of the opposition, Hussein is unacceptable because his recent “break” with the authorities has come too late in the war.

At the news conference, the two men endorsed a joint vision for the opposition as it seeks to maintain pressure on the Assad regime, and as yet another series of meetings designed to end the war are taking place in Geneva, supervised by U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura.

They harshly criticized the notion of the regime playing a role in any transitional phase or negotiated end to the conflict, but both will attend Geneva meetings in some form.

The Coalition maintains that it is not officially taking part in the process, but is instead sending veteran figure Haitham Maleh to deliver a letter addressed to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and de Mistura.

The letters, according to Coalition officials, contain the group’s vision for a solution to the conflict as well as several reservations about the performance of de Mistura, who has been widely castigated in opposition circles for being biased toward the regime, and less-than-serious when it comes to conducting meaningful political talks. De Mistura is also heavily under fire for inviting Iran to the Geneva consultations.

The news conference was held in the wake of several military setbacks for the regime, which is suffering painful levels of casualties, and amid fears that rebel gains could lead to sectarian massacres targeting Alawites, the sect of Assad.

Khoja and Hussein said they supported the establishment of “safe zones” in rebel-held areas, to protect civilians, as well as a “new national army” to ensure security for Syrians throughout the country in a future, post-Assad phase.

Hussein summed up his decision to leave Syria by saying that “the reality has changed over the last year, as the regime has turned into a militia-like entity that is unable to take part in any political process.”