Syrian cleric chosen to head opposition

A moderate cleric who fled Syria has been chosen to head the opposition against President Bashar al-Assad. 52-year-old Moaz al-Khatib was selected to head a new coalition, the National Coalition Forces of the Syrian Revolution led by the Syrian National Council (SNC). The US and Arab nations have been pushing the SNC to unite with other opposition groups in Syria. Al-Khatib left for Cairo in July after being detained by Syrian authorities at least thrice since the revolution began. In October, he called for a political solution to save his country from further destruction and pave the way for the departure of the al-Assad regime with the least harm caused. More than 35,000 have been killed in the fighting in Syria and more than 400,000 have been displaced.

Read the full story on BBC News. 

A related story is on CNN.