Syria's key opposition National Coalition has elected a new chief, who has received backing from both secular and moderate Islamist blocs.
Khaled Khoja is the first member of the Turkmen minority elected to the post and is seen as more independent than his predecessor, Hadi al-Bahra, who had strong ties to Saudi Arabia.
"Khoja won with support from the democratic and secular forces as well as moderate Islamists within the coalition," member Samir Nashar said on Monday.
He said the election showed a "decline in the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood", which had backed Khoja's rival, Nasr Hariri.
Khoja won with 56 votes, six more than Hariri. The election took place in Istanbul, where the coalition is based.
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The National Coalition is the internationally-recognised representative of Syria's uprising, but is often accused of being out-of-touch with reality on the ground in the country's nearly-four-year war.
It has twice held talks with the Syrian regime that achieved little, and is currently debating a new plan by Damascus ally Russia to restart dialogue on a solution to the conflict.
The coalition has also been riven by conflict between its regional backers, including arch-rivals Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Turkey too has vied for influence, including by backing the Muslim Brotherhood bloc in the coalition.
Coalition member Nashar, who is close to Khoja, expressed hope that "the new leadership will work to return the Syrian revolution to the right path".
