Syria's Western-backed opposition elects new president

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(Adds quote from Bahra In paragraph 4) BEIRUT, July 9 (Reuters) - Syria's Western-backed opposition, the National Coalition, elected Hadi al-Bahra, chief negotiator at the Geneva peace talks, as its new president on Wednesday after a three-day meeting in Istanbul. The United States and other key powers have designated the National Coalition as the main body representing the opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but it has little power inside Syria where disparate militant groups outside its control hold ground. Bahra, a U.S-trained industrial engineer, has close ties to regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia, as did his predecessor Ahmad Jarba, who stood down after serving the maximum two six-month terms. Bahra's election is unlikely to have any impact on the situation in Syria or within opposition ranks for **w, though France - the first Western country to back the Coalition - welcomed his appointment and said it was still striving for a political resolution of the conflict.

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