Syria's key opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition voted against three nominees for interim government, proposed by Interim Prime Minister Ahmad Toumeh on Monday in Istanbul, Zaman al-Wasl source has revealed.
The minimum votes needed to win were 62. The results as following:
– Eyad Qudsi for Deputy Prime Minister: 71 votes
– Asaad Moustafa for Defence Minister: 64 votes
– Ammar Qurabi for Interior Minister: 30 votes
– Othman Bedawi for Local Administration: 67 votes
-Abdul Rahman al-Haj for Education Minister: 59 votes
– Mohammad Jamil Jarran for Health Minister: 47 votes
– Ibrahim Miro for Finance and Economy Minister: 72 votes
– Elias Wardi for Petroleum and Energy: 67 votes
-Walid al-Zoubi for Infrastructures, Agriculture and Water Resources Minister: 63 Votes
– Mohammad Yassin Najjar for Telecommunications: 67 votes
– Faez al-Ghaher for Justice Minister: 65 votes.
-Taghrid al-Hajali for Culture and Family: 62 votes
Toumeh will handle the Foreign Ministry besides acting as Prime Minister for the cabinet.
Toumeh was elected on September 14 to form the interim government. In a speech following his election, Toumeh said: “We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. This government has been formed to help us accomplish the goals of the revolution, and it will set the stage for our second independence.”
In his first interview after he was elected, Toumeh told Reuters that the opposition faced an “ideological challenge” to convince many who joined Al-Qaeda to leave the group.
“If they refuse, then we will look for all ways to guarantee the security of the people and their livelihood and for a dignified living,” Toumeh said.
He said many of the ranks of Al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria did not have a deep attachment to the group, and joined because it provided them with weapons to fight Assad’s forces and helped local communities with bread and basic staples.
“They became susceptible to the idea that religion cannot reign unless there is a religious state. This is not what Islam says,” Toumeh said.
The government plans to move into northern Syria, despite the risk of air strikes and shelling by Assad's forces.
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
......
