The newly-formed Syrian Democratic Council elected the Qahm Movement’s Haytham Manna as joint president of the council, during the recent summit in Maalikiyah for Syria’s so-called “internal opposition”.
The Council’s first meeting, which was held today in Rmelan city, Hassakeh province, was attended by 42 Council members who oversaw the election of members to the council and administrative committees.
At the end of meeting, Haytham Manna and member of the Executive Commission of the Movement for Democratic Society Ilham Ahmed were elected joint Secretary Generals of the Council.
The announcement of the establishment of the new Council came in parallel with opposition talks in the Saudi capital between a number of Syrian opposition parties and factions. According to attendees, the Council represents the opposition inside Syria, even though it includes representatives of military factions loyal to the Kurdish People Protection Units.
The Syrian Democratic Council is the political representative of the Syrian Democratic Forces, led by People Protection Units and backed by Moscow.
Media activists attacked the meeting, claiming it did not represent any military faction and had no relation to any forces active on the ground. The activists considered the council a Russian attempt to disperse the opposition’s efforts, and to thwart the efforts of any political solution.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
