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Syrian opposition leader Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib resigns Syrian opposition leader Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib resigns
(about 1 hour later)
The leader of the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC), Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, has resigned.The leader of the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC), Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, has resigned.
Mr Khatib wrote on Facebook that world powers had failed to help the rebels, and he could only improve the situation by working outside of the coalition.Mr Khatib wrote on Facebook that world powers had failed to help the rebels, and he could only improve the situation by working outside of the coalition.
Analysts say Mr Khatib believed the SNC was too heavily influenced by Islamists and foreign powers like Qatar.Analysts say Mr Khatib believed the SNC was too heavily influenced by Islamists and foreign powers like Qatar.
It is thought that he objected to last week's election of a prime minister for an interim opposition government. However, a later report claimed that the SNC had refused his resignation and expected him to continue in his post.
The BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says the issue that brought matters to a head appears to have been last week's election of a prime minister for an interim opposition government.
The SNC chose US-based Islamist Ghassan Hitto to head the alternative administration, which is intended to govern rebel-held areas from inside Syria.The SNC chose US-based Islamist Ghassan Hitto to head the alternative administration, which is intended to govern rebel-held areas from inside Syria.
Mr Hitto's election in Istanbul last Monday was described by some coalition leaders as a "transparent, democratic" election, but it also prompted several resignations from the SNC.Mr Hitto's election in Istanbul last Monday was described by some coalition leaders as a "transparent, democratic" election, but it also prompted several resignations from the SNC.
And the military wing of the opposition, the Free Syrian Army, has also said it would not recognise Mr Hitto because he had been forced on the opposition.And the military wing of the opposition, the Free Syrian Army, has also said it would not recognise Mr Hitto because he had been forced on the opposition.
Mr Khatib may have feared that Mr Hitto's election would further distance the outside opposition leadership from what is going on inside Syria, our correspondent says.
'Unprecedentedly vicious''Unprecedentedly vicious'
Mr Khatib, who was elected head of the SNC in November 2012, is seen as a respected and unifying figure in Syria. Mr Khatib said in his statement that he had promised to resign if certain "red lines" were reached, but he did not specify what those red lines were.
He said in his statement that he had promised to resign if certain "red lines" were reached, but he did not specify what those red lines were.
"I announce my resignation from the National Coalition, so that I can work with a freedom that cannot possibly be had in an official institution," he said."I announce my resignation from the National Coalition, so that I can work with a freedom that cannot possibly be had in an official institution," he said.
"For the past two years, we have been slaughtered by an unprecedentedly vicious regime, while the world has looked on."For the past two years, we have been slaughtered by an unprecedentedly vicious regime, while the world has looked on.
"All the destruction of Syria's infrastructure, the detention of tens of thousands of people, the forced flight of hundreds of thousands and other forms of suffering have been insufficient for the international community to take a decision to allow the people to defend themselves.""All the destruction of Syria's infrastructure, the detention of tens of thousands of people, the forced flight of hundreds of thousands and other forms of suffering have been insufficient for the international community to take a decision to allow the people to defend themselves."
Mr Khatib caused controversy in January by offering talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on condition that 160,000 prisoners were freed. Mr Khatib, who was elected head of the SNC in November 2012, is seen as a respected and unifying figure in Syria.
However, he caused controversy in January by offering talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on condition that 160,000 prisoners were freed.
The opposition had previously insisted Mr Assad step down before any talks could begin.The opposition had previously insisted Mr Assad step down before any talks could begin.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said he liked Mr Khatib on a personal level and was sorry to hear about the resignation.US Secretary of State John Kerry said he liked Mr Khatib on a personal level and was sorry to hear about the resignation.
However, Mr Kerry added: "The notion that he might resign has frankly been expressed by him on many different occasions in many different places and it is not a surprise."However, Mr Kerry added: "The notion that he might resign has frankly been expressed by him on many different occasions in many different places and it is not a surprise."
Mr Khatib's resignation comes a day after European Union foreign ministers failed to resolve their differences over whether to exempt Syrian rebels from an arms embargo.Mr Khatib's resignation comes a day after European Union foreign ministers failed to resolve their differences over whether to exempt Syrian rebels from an arms embargo.
Correspondents say divisions within the opposition are the main concern for international backers.Correspondents say divisions within the opposition are the main concern for international backers.