A Syrian political leader. Kuwatli worked against the Turks and then the French for Syrian independence. He was elected President, when Syria became independent in 1943 but was overthrown in a military coup in 1949. After a five-year exile in Egypt Kuwatli returned home and again became its President during 1955-1959. Kuwatli and Gamal Abudl Nasser formed the United Arab Republic in 1958-61, a union of Syria and Egypt.