Syrian Opposition Groups Fail to Elect New Coalition Chairman

Syrian opposition conducted on Saturday a vote to elect a new leader, yet the chairman post of the so-called ’National Coalition’ kept vacant as none of the candidates gained majority.

Syrian opposition conducted on Saturday a vote to elect a new leader, yet the chairman post of the so-called 'National Coalition' kept vacant as none of the candidates gained majority.

The two favorite candidates for the position are Ahamd Jarba, a tribal pro-Saudi Arabia leader, and Mustapha al-Dabagh, a pro-Qatar business man, failed to gain the simple majority needed to win the elections.

The Coalition is composed of 115 members that belong mainly to Muslim Brotherhood, al-Sabagh bloc, and the Saudi-backed bloc that includes Jarba.

The former Coalition leader Moaz al-Khatib resigned few months ago due to a row over talks with the Syrian government.

The coalition was founded in Doha in November 2012 and was constituted then of 63 seats. It receives support from Turkey, U.S., Britain, France, NATO member-states and the Arab League in a flagrant violation of the Syrian sovereignty recognized by the international community and the United Nations.