Turkey welcomes election of interim PM by Syrian opposition

ISTANBUL, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish government on Wednesday welcomed the Syrian opposition's election of an interim prime minister after two days of meetings in Istanbul.

Members of the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, an umbrella group of Syrian oppositions overseas, elected Western-educated technocrat Ghassan Hitto as provisional prime minister in their revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement that the coalition' bid to form a interim government is a strong indication of its determination to protect the Syrian people "oppressed by the regime," expressing confidence in its ability to fulfill their urgent needs.

Ankara has been providing shelter for Syrian opposition groups and refugees since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict two years ago.

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