According to reports, Syria’s opposition umbrella group, the National Coalition, met last week in Istanbul in a bid to name a prime minister-in-exile. The group is recognised as the sole representative of the Syrian people by many Western and Arab governments. Differences have emerged over who should lead the government-in-exile. One proposal named Riad Hijab as a possible candidate but it has been criticised. Hijab is a former prime minister in the Assad government who defected late last year and has helped Turkey to attempt to restructure the fragmented Syrian opposition. The National Coalition has called for the establishment of interim government with executive powers in rebel-held areas of Syria. 1

• 1. “Syrian opposition meets to name PM-in-exile”, The Jordan Times, January 20, 2013 at http://jordantimes.com/syrian-opposition-meets-to-name-pm-in-exile