MARRAKESH: The head of the Syrian National Coalition has been invited for talks in Washington following US recognition of the opposition bloc as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, a senior US envoy said on Wednesday.

"We have extended an invitation to (Ahmed) Moaz al-Khatib and the Coalition leadership to visit Washington at the earliest opportunity," Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said in Morocco, where he was attending a meeting of the Friends of Syria group.

"The United States joined our partners in taking an important step forward," Burns added, referring to the long-awaited move announced by President Barack Obama on Tuesday.

"We have now recognised the Syrian opposition council as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people."