Syrian Opposition Leader on Fight to Overthrow Assad

The Syrian conflict has been raging on for more than two years and Syria’s opposition factions have been divided over how to end the crisis. Last year a new alliance was formed for Syria’s fractious opposition. It was hoped that the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces would become the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people, and would replace the Syrian National Council which had been criticized as being ineffective.
The Syrian opposition coalition has set up an interim government, has broad international support, and was recently recognized by the Arab League, but it has struggled to establish effective leadership and overcome internal differences. The National Coalition’s president, Moaz al-Khatib, recently announced his intention to resign, just days after the coalition elected an interim prime minister, Ghassan Hitto.
Najib Ghadbian is the special representative to the United States from the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, and oversees the coalition’s offices in the U.S.