Head of Saudi-backed Syrian opposition bloc steps down

Statement from Riyad Hijab, chief coordinator of the High Negotiations Committee, does not say why he has resigned from his post after two years.

In this January 11, 2016 file photo, Former Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab talks to the press after his meeting with then French President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (Photo AP)
AP

In this January 11, 2016 file photo, Former Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab talks to the press after his meeting with then French President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (Photo AP)

The head of the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee (HNC), Riyad Hijab, resigned on Monday after a nearly two-year term.

A statement from Hijab did not say why he was quitting the Saudi-backed HNC, the main anti-regime umbrella bloc, which includes political and armed groups and has represented the opposition in peace talks.

The resignation comes two days ahead of a planned conference for the Syrian opposition factions in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

The conference comes as an attempt by Saudi Arabia to unify all Syrian oppositions platforms and is expected to discuss critical topics like the fate of Syria’s Bashar Assad in the transitional period and the acceptance of 2012 amended constitution. 

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Hijab was the prime minister of Syria between 2011-2012, he defected from the regime in August 2012, and was considered as the highest ranking defector from Assad regime.

HNC is an umbrella body that was created in 2016 to bring most of the Syrian opposition factions together for Geneva talks.

In his resignation statement, he says: "I find myself forced to resign after spending nearly two years of continuous work to preserve the fundamentals of the Syrian revolution." 

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