Al-Khatib may Resign from SNC due to Divisions

Local Editor

More divisions and dispute among Syria's opposition emerged to the surface. According to well-informed sources from within the Syrian opposition, the head of the so-called "Syrian National Coalition" Moaz al-Khatib may soon submit his resignation due to disputes with other opposition figures.

The sources further mentioned that al-Khatib plans to submit his resignation in the scheduled opposition meeting to be held in Istanbul on the 18th and 19th of March.
In details, there existed a dispute between al-Khatib and the General Secretary of the "SNC", Mustafa al-Sabbagh, over the formation of an interim government.

This comes after al-Sabbagh sent a letter to Khatib urging him to form an interim government. The letter was a response to al-Khatib's latest statements, where he had said that forming an interim government would sow divisions.
Sabbagh also emphasized the importance of attaining a seat at the Arab League and attending the Arab body's summit in Doha at the end of the month.

US also pressured the opposition to form government. In this context, US Secretary of State John Kerry urged the Syrian opposition parties to agree on forming a cabinet which represents all Syrian people. He added that "it is important for the Syrian opposition to sit with regime officials come to a consensus on forming a transitional cabinet."

Meanwhile, French foreign minister Laurent Fabius said French and American officials are working with Russian representatives to prepare "a list of Syrian officials that will be accepted by the opposition Syrian National Coalition [t0 hold negotiations]".

It is worth mentioning that the SNC failed more than once to agree on the formation of an interim government, the latest was set for Tuesday. Postponing this week's meeting was not the first as the opposition had been due to meet at the end of February in Istanbul.

Source: News agencies, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org