Syrian opponents of President Bashar al Assad took their seat at the 22-member Arab League summit in Qatar on Tuesday.

The seat was filled by Moaz al-Khatib, who had led the opposition’s main umbrella group — the National Coalition — until his resignation last week.

It’s a significant moment for rebel forces, as it gives them some international legitimacy, and puts the National Coalition in a seat formerly held by Assad’s government.

“It is part of the restoration of legitimacy that the people of Syria have long been robbed of,” Khatib said, who gave an impassioned speech after the announcement.

“We call for an end to the bloodshed. We want liberty, we wish to steer the country away from further destruction. We wish to maintain national harmony — a clear diplomatic solution to stop the killing at the hands of the regime,” Khatib said.

Syria has not had an Arab League representative since November 2011, when Assad’s government was suspended for its violent crackdown on a popular uprising.

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