The main Syrian opposition National Coalition on Saturday elected Ahmad Jarba as president after a close runoff vote held in Istanbul, coalition members told Reuters.

Jarba is a tribal figure from the eastern Hasaka province who is well linked with Saudi Arabia. He defeated businessman Mustafa Sabbagh, Qatar's pointman in the opposition.

"A change was needed," Adib Shishakly, a senior official in the coalition, told Reuters.

"The old leadership of the coalition had failed to offer the Syrian people anything substantial and was preoccupied with internal politics. Ahmad Jarba is willing to work with everybody," he added.-Reuters