Syria's main Western-backed opposition grouping has elected an interim prime minister as it seeks to boost its standing as a credible political alternative in the civil war-stricken country.
The Syrian National Coalition voted in Istanbul Saturday to name longtime political activist Ahmad Tumeh its new prime minister.
Tumeh will be tasked with organizing governance in areas of Syria controlled by rebel factions.
The news comes after the U.S. and Russia reached agreement on a framework to secure and destroy the Syrian government's chemical weapons.
When Russia first initiated the diplomatic effort, the Syrian National Coalition dismissed the proposal as meaningless. It said the plan still would give the Syrian army free rein to fight on with conventional weapons.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
The Syrian National Coalition voted in Istanbul Saturday to name longtime political activist Ahmad Tumeh its new prime minister.
Tumeh will be tasked with organizing governance in areas of Syria controlled by rebel factions.
The news comes after the U.S. and Russia reached agreement on a framework to secure and destroy the Syrian government's chemical weapons.
When Russia first initiated the diplomatic effort, the Syrian National Coalition dismissed the proposal as meaningless. It said the plan still would give the Syrian army free rein to fight on with conventional weapons.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
