Syrian opposition coalition elected Ghassan Hitto as a prime minister of the interim government here Tuesday morning, part of efforts to establish a coherent and inclusive political body to administer the opposition-held areas of northern Syria.

Hitto, a communications executive, has lived in the United States for decades.

Six candidates were nominated for the position of prime minister, but after long discussions, Hitto was elected as transitional prime minister at the end of the meeting.

The two-day meeting, attended by the Syrian National Coalition's 63 key members, was expected to facilitate the opposition's efforts to appear as a capable political organization amid mounting criticism over internal squabbles and the fractured nature of the opposition.

The election followed two failed attempts to form an interim cabinet due to the group's infighting since the uprising against Bashar al-Assad's rule started two years ago.

The conflict has since turned into a civil war in which at least 70,000 have been killed.