Chief quits coalition

Syrian opposition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib has resigned from the National Coalition.

"I announce my resignation from the National Coalition, so that I can work with a freedom that I cannot possibly have in an official institution," he said in a statement, adding that he had promised to step down if certain "red lines" were reached.

Khatib did not specify the red lines, but his frustration came with the international community's failure to authorize the armament of Syrian rebels after the European Union turned down British and French calls to exempt the rebels from an arms embargo on Syria.

Key opposition backer Qatar called on Khatib to reverse his decision, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani.

But an opposition source in Doha said Khatib accused "certain countries, notably Qatar, of wanting to control the opposition".

AFP -Xinhua

(China Daily 03/26/2013 page12)