West-backed Syria opposition to pick new president

West-backed Syria opposition to pick new president
Sun Jul 6, 2014 23:28:16

The Western-backed Syrian opposition group has commenced a three-day meeting in Istanbul to elect a new president and also discuss latest offensives by rival ISIL terrorists spanning Iraq and Syria.

The Sunday meeting came amid reports that nearly150,000 people have been displaced from their homes in eastern Syria by al-Qaeda-linked ISIL terrorists who captured wide areas of the eastern province of Deir el-Zour in the past weeks.

Opposition official Mustafa Osso said the so-called Syrian National Coalition will pick a replacement for its current president, Ahmad al-Jarba, in a vote expected on Tuesday.

He added that the top two candidates for the job are senior coalition members Hadi Bahra and Muwaffaq Nairabiyeh, who belong to Jarba's “Democratic bloc.”

Jarba, who was elected in July of last year has already served two six-month terms - the maximum period allowed by the coalition.

A statement by the group said that in addition to a vote for a new president, the coalition will also elect three vice presidents, a secretary general and a political committee.

The statement said the coalition will be "discussing the military changes in Syria and the region in general, and its impact on the course of revolution."

Over the past weeks, the Takfiri terrorists have launched a wide offensive in eastern Syria and northern Iraq, capturing large areas on both sides of the border.

Also on Sunday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the ISIL terrorists have displaced 150,000 Syrians from their homes in the eastern oil-rich province of Deir el-Zour.

The Takfiri group has been on the offensive in Deir el-Zour since late April and has captured a large numbers of towns and villages in the province after intense fighting with rival insurgent groups.

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