Sanaa , Yemen ( CNN ) -- Yemen 's opposition groups announced the formation of the National Revolution Council Wednesday , the first significant move toward forming a new government in Yemen . The move comes amid efforts to replace President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his embattled government . The council will have 143 members from a range of political factions , including political figures abroad and in exile . Its main mission will be to end the Saleh regime and ensure that its demands be met . The council will seek recognition from world and regional powers as the sole representative of Yemen . The Yemeni political crisis started January 16 , when youth protesters took to the streets demanding Saleh 's resignation . Today , protests continue in the majority of Yemen 's provinces . Saleh , who has been faced with widespread anti-government sentiment and militant activity , has been urged to accept a political transition plan that will lead to his departure . He has been in Saudi Arabia for treatment of wounds he suffered in an assassination attempt June . Mohammed Qahtan , the spokesman for the opposition Joint Meeting Parties , welcomed the powerful step on the council formation and insisted that Yemen is going in the right direction . `` The national council will speed the process of change in Yemen and will end all government efforts in forcing the country to enter a phase of violence , '' said Qahtan . The council is expected to meet later in the week to choose a president and a 20-person executive committee to run the affairs of the `` Yemeni revolution , '' said Qahtan . Sakhr Wajeeh , a senior opposition official and member of the council , said the doors are still open for more political figures and sides to enter in order to ensure that the council represents all the Yemeni people . `` This council is key to the success of the Yemeni revolution and all parties must be involved and active in order to lead the country towards prosperity , '' said Wajeeh . The Houthi Shiite rebels , who control the northern Saada province and are a strong force in Yemeni politics , were not involved in the national council ; they refused to join . However , they are still in dialogue with opposition officials on receiving membership to the council . The council will gradually work on convincing the international community to acknowledge it as a legitimate representative of the Yemeni people . `` This is step one , and if the regime does not accept peaceful transition of power , we will call on the international community to change its stance on who represents the Yemeni people , '' said Ahmed al-Bahri , a senior opposition Haq party official . The conference was held at Sanaa University , just meters away from Change Square , where youth protesters have set up camps demanding a regime change . Protesters insist that Saleh 's family stand trial for crimes committed against Yemenis .
NEW : The council is expected to elect a president and executive committee soon . The group will be called the Democratic Revolution Council . The president has been expected to step down in an orderly transition .