Syrian opposition confirms leader's resignation

2012-05-17 16:17:49 GMT2012-05-18 00:17:49(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

ISTANBUL, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian National Council (SNC) based in Turkey's Istanbul confirmed on Thursday that its newly re- elected President Burhan Ghalioun is ready to quit as the head of the main opposition body.

Samir Nashar, member of SNC, told Xinhua that the council will hold an urgent meeting in Istanbul on Thursday night to discuss the latest development.

He said that the resignation of Ghalioun is very complicated and needs a lot of discussion with various political groups under the Council.

Earlier Thursday, Ghalioun said he was ready to quit "as soon as a replacement is found through elections or consensus," as he would not like to be "a cause for division."

Ghalioun has led the opposition in exile since the SNC's creation in August 2011.

Infighting and the lack of political coherence within the SNC have hindered its effort to win formal international recognition as the sole legitimate representative of the anti-Assad movement.

| PRINT | RSS

Add Your Comments:

Please read our Terms of Service. Messages that harass, abuse or threaten others; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or advertising content or links may be removed.