video transcript

At a meeting of the Syrian National Council in Qatar on Wednesday, leader of the opposition group Abdulbasat Sieda said they welcome the re-election of U.S. President Barack Obama. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, ABDULBASET SIEDA, SAYING: "We congratulate the American people on their election choice, we also congratulate President Obama." Now that the U.S. elections are over, the SNC leader said he hoped that Obama gives more attention to the Syrian crisis. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, ABDULBASET SIEDA, SAYING: "We hope that President Obama is now freed from the election campaign procedures so he can now have enough time to deal with the situation in Syria as a leader of the world's super power." But those in Beirut were no so hopeful, with many saying another four years of U.S. President Barack Obama in office will not bring about policy change toward the Middle East. One Palestinian refugee shared this sentiment. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN REFUGEE, MAHMOUD JAZZAR, SAYING: "Regarding the U.S. election, in the end no matter how much we care about it, there will be no change in the American policy and the American position will remain the same as it was for the past 60 years. We will remain marginalised and we will not return to our lands and the middle-ground solution will not work," Obama won a new term by convincing American voters to stick with him as he tries to reignite growth in the ailing U.S. economy.