A coalition of Syrian opposition groups re-elected Ahmad al-Jarba as its leader in a vote in Istanbul, dpa quoted the group as saying on its website early Monday. Al-Jarba, who has led the Syrian National Coalition since July, beat his only rival for the post of president, Riad Hijab, a former Syrian premier who defected in 2012. The coalition also elected three vice-presidents during a general assembly at its base in the Turkish city. Al-Jarba's re-election comes two weeks before a peace conference in Geneva, dubbed Geneva II, due to take place on January 22.