ISTANBUL - The opposition Syrian National Coalition elected a moderate Islamist as provisional prime minister on Saturday, hoping to avoid being sidelined as world powers renew diplomatic efforts to end the civil war.The SNC has long sought recognition as a government in exile, but has been hampered by internal divisions and varying pressures from its Arab and Western backers. The election of 48-year-old opposition campaigner Ahmad Tumeh is meant to show it can fulfil that role.Coalition sources said the decision to proceed with naming a provisional government went ahead despite opposition from the United States, which hopes to convene, along with Russia, a peace conference in Geneva that could come up with a transitional administration.That follows a deal between Russia and the United States over President Bashar Assad's chemical weapons arsenal that could lead to efforts towards a wider settlement of the two-and-a-half year conflict.Tumeh said his priority would be restoring order to areas of Syria no longer controlled by Assad.
(photo credit: The Jerusalem Post)