Syrian National Coalition Head Khatib Refiles Resignation

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Syria's National Coalition head Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib has refiled his resignation and an interim leader is being sought, a fellow member and a source close to the main opposition group said on Sunday.

Khatib insists on resigning, almost a month after first announcing he was stepping down and two weeks before NC leadership elections are scheduled to take place.

"I can confirm that Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib has resigned from the presidency," Coalition member Marwan Hajjo told Agence France Presse, following a pro-opposition "Friends of Syria" meeting in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

When Khatib first resigned, "the Coalition's General Assembly did not meet to discuss his resignation. But now, I can confirm Khatib's resignation is final," said Hajjo, who heads the Coalition's membership committee.

Meanwhile, a source close to the Coalition told AFP on condition of anonymity that NC members have in Istanbul launched discussions on who should become the opposition's new chief.

"Coalition members are holding consultations on who should become the interim president until the scheduled meeting on May 10," said the source.

"Khatib is resigning to denounce the international community's lack of real action on behalf of the Syrian people," Hajjo said.

"The international community, the Friends of Syria group, should be providing heavy weapons to enable the Syrians to defend themselves.

"But it is clear the international community doesn't mean anything. It only acts according to its own prerogatives," he added.

In Istanbul, the United States said earlier on Sunday that it would double its aid to Syria's opposition, including with new non-lethal military equipment, but paid no heed to calls for arms supplies or a direct intervention.

A moderate Sunni cleric who has widespread grassroots support inside Syria, Khatib has been a vocal critic of the international community's lack of action on the two-year Syrian conflict.

The Coalition was founded in Doha last November and has since been recognized by dozens of states and organizations, including the Arab League, as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

Comments 6
Missing helicopter 21 April 2013, 18:45

I am curious as to why you are residing in a Western country while your views are so anti-west. Are you one of those that drink from a well and then throws a stone in it. Or are you there as a mole to propagate HA and Iran's agenda? I think it is hypocritical of you to live there.

Missing abraham 21 April 2013, 21:49

Just because you disagree what the western countries do in some instances doesn't mean you hate them, but you have a platform that you can express your displeasure in voting boots, that's called democracy.
We in lebanon are still looking for it.

Default-user-icon John Marina (Guest) 21 April 2013, 20:41

My gift to this guy is a necktie and a shaving machine, this type of individuals mercenaries were going to rule Syria?

Missing karim_m3 21 April 2013, 22:10

FSA-Al Qaeda is falling apart.

Missing topace 21 April 2013, 23:01

The West maybe finally saw through the FSA as just a front for the fanatical Jihadist Sunni Islamists fighting in Syria .

Default-user-icon Gaston Delebiks (Guest) 23 April 2013, 15:38

The first time he submitted his resignation it was rejected because of the lack of proper filing. This time, the committee will review the application for completeness before accepting it. This committee shall meet within the next few days in the bedrock of democracy, Saudi Arabia, considering that Bahrain is overtaken by the not-to-be-missed even of the century, the Formula 1 race.