Syria's ambassador to Iraq defected in protest over President Bashar al-Assad's violent suppression of a 16-month uprising as the UN Security Council remained deadlocked over the next steps in the crisis, according to Reuters.
"I declare that I have joined, from this moment, the ranks of the revolution of the Syrian people," Nawah al-Fares said in a video statement posted on Facebook. He did not elaborate or say from where he had posted the statement.
"I ask … the members of the military to join the revolution and to defend the country and the citizens. Turn your guns toward the criminals from this regime," Fares said. "Every Syrian man has to join the revolution to remove this nightmare and this gang which has reeked corruption across Syria and destroyed the state and society over the last 40 years, and to guarantee a bright future for the coming generations."
Fares, who has close ties to Syrian security, was the first senior diplomat to quit the embattled government.
He did not spell out his reasons for defecting, but repeatedly said government forces have been killing civilians.
There has been no comment from Damascus or Baghdad and the White House said it was unable to confirm the defection, hailed by Assad's opponents as a sign of crumbling support.
