CAIRO – Syrian opposition groups struggled to form a united leadership and a political platform at a meeting Tuesday that exposed the vast disagreements that have prevented them from effectively leading the uprising against President Bashar Assad.

Arguments were rife among the roughly 250 participants at the conference in Cairo over key questions, including whether to ask for foreign military intervention to halt the violence and what role religion would play in a post-Assad Syria.

A week ago, delegates still were debating the wording of a document meant to guide the opposition through a transitional period and present a basic vision of the future state. It was unclear when the final text would be released.