AP, Beirut, 6 July 2014 — A member of the main Western-backed Syrian opposition group says it will begin a three-day meeting later in the day in Istanbul to elect a new president and discuss the offensive by Islamic militants straddling Iraq and Syria.
Mustafa Osso says the Syrian National Coalition will pick a replacement for its current president, Ahmad al-Jarba, in a vote expected on Tuesday.
He says the top to candidates for the job are senior coalition members Hadi Bahra and Muwaffaq Nairabiyeh.
Both candidates belong to Jarba’s Democratic bloc, Osso says.
Jarba, who was elected in July last year has already served two six-month terms — the maximum period allowed by the group.