Al-Khatib preparing to stand for Syrian opposition elections

Al-Khatib is ex-president of National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces Damascus – George Al Shami Moaz al-Khatib is considering standing in upcoming elections to lead Syria’s opposition National Coalition, despite submitting his resignation twice, sources have revealed. Al-Khatib reportedly regrets earlier decisions to resign and intends to represent the National Coalition as de facto coalition chairman at the upcoming Geneva conference, after appearing at an opposition summit in Madrid on Monday.
US officials hope to bolster al-Khatib’s position in the National Coalition as a foil to Islamists, after interim Prime Minister Ghassan Hitto headed a strong Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated faction following his election.
National Coalition officials are expected to meet in Istanbul to elect a new leader ahead of important diplomatic engagements, including the Geneva conference.
Foreign ministers of the so-called Friends of Syria group of nations are due to meet on Wednesday in Jordan, ahead of a planned Syria peace conference which Washington and Russia are hoping to organise.
Branches of the divided opposition met in Madrid on Monday seeking to harmonise their approach, their Spanish government hosts said.