Syrian opposition leader Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib resigns

The leader of the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC), Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib, has resigned.

Mr Khatib wrote on Facebook that world powers had failed to help the rebels, and he could only improve the situation by working outside of the coalition.

Analysts say Mr Khatib believed the SNC was too heavily influenced by Islamists and foreign powers like Qatar.

However, a later report claimed that the SNC had refused his resignation and expected him to continue in his post.

The BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says the issue that brought matters to a head appears to have been last week's election of a prime minister for an interim opposition government.

The SNC chose US-based Islamist Ghassan Hitto to head the alternative administration, which is intended to govern rebel-held areas from inside Syria.

Mr Hitto's election in Istanbul last Monday was described by some coalition leaders as a "transparent, democratic" election, but it also prompted several resignations from the SNC.