Syria: 5 candidates vying for prime spot
2013-02-26 20:26
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Syria
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Beirut - At least five candidates are vying to become
"prime minister" of a government Syria's opposition plans to create
to administer rebel-held territory, a member of the Syrian National Council (SNC)
said on Tuesday.
The SNC, the main bloc within the opposition National
Coalition, decided on Monday to present three names for the post, member Samir
Nashar told AFP.
They are former SNC head Burhan Ghalioun and members
Salim al-Moslet and Osama Kadi.
"Other names from outside the SNC are being
circulated," including former Syrian premier Riad Hijab, who defected last
summer, and Khaled Mustafa, Nashar said.
The premier will be elected in a secret ballot by the 64
general assembly members of the Syrian National Coalition on 2 March.
The Coalition decided on Friday to form a government to
run areas of the country "liberated" by rebels.
During the upcoming summit in Istanbul, it will also
decide on the composition of the planned government.
Coalition spokesperson Walid al-Bunni said the new
government would bring together "technocrats" tasked with managing
electricity and water supplies and other key infrastructure.
The decision came as the conflict approaches the two-year
mark, with the rebels having seized significant swathes of territory in the
north and east.
Analysts say the move will help the opposition-in-exile
gain credibility with Syrians inside the country and the international
community, and also catch up with well-established Islamist groups.
- SAPA
