Syria's fractured opposition is showing further signs of cracking, even as international powers build the pressure on President Bashar al-Assad to end his regime's bloody repression of dissent.

The son of a former Syrian prime minister announced Thursday plans to create a shadow "government'' in exile, exposing the lack of unity around the Syrian National Council that many countries call the main opposition group.

Nofal al-Dawalibi, who divides his time between Paris and Saudi Arabia, announced plans for the" government'' and says he wants to help Syrian rebels and encourage international military intervention against Assad's forces.