Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab announced on Monday (August 6th) he was joining the opposition and heading to Qatar, becoming the highest-ranking defector since the uprising in Syria began, AFP reported.
After fleeing to Jordan, Hijab accused the Syrian government of "genocide" against its own people.
"I announce my defection today from the regime of killing and terror, and I join the ranks of the revolt," Hijab said in statement read by spokesperson Mohammed al-Otri.
Syrian opposition members in Jordan said Hijab and his family crossed the border during the night and were accompanied by two government ministers and three army officers.
"The Free Syrian Army helped all of them cross the border," said Syrian National Council member Khalid Zein al-Abedin. "They are now in a safe place inside the kingdom."
The premier's defection required months to organise, al-Otri said, adding that Hijab will head to Qatar in the next few days, the spokesperson added.
Syrian state television on Monday reported Hijab was dismissed and that Deputy Prime Minister Omar Ghalawanji was appointed as a caretaker prime minister.
The 46-year-old Hijab, who had previously served as agricultural minister, was only appointed to the premiership on June 6th following a widely boycotted May 7th parliamentary election.
Hijab's defection follows that of two other prominent Syrians.
On Sunday, Col. Yaraab Shara, head of the information division at the Political Security in Damascus, fled to Jordan, and Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Faris, a military aviator who became the first Syrian in space in 1987, fled to Turkey, according to Al-Arabiya.
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ADD A COMMENT (COMMENT POLICY) * DENOTES REQUIRED FIELD
READER COMMENTS
احمد عزبان
2012-8-19
God is against Bashaar and his associates!
رحيم الاسدي الاسدي
2012-8-8
The crows joined the line of crows. He join Doha, the new capital of the Zionist entity. The traitor is denouncing the reply of the Syrian government to the terrorists and he does not denounce the terrorist crimes committed by the terrorists against the Syrian families!
jadco
2012-8-7
The one who lost gold, may find gold in the gold market. The one who lost a child, may find his child a year later. But, the one who lost a nation, where will he find it?
نوال
2012-8-7
The crimes of Bashar al-Asad condemn him strongly as he committed the most horrible crimes towards the Syrians and he violated all the human rights. Bashar did not respect his promises or pledges to the Syrians. The Syrians are humans, but they have rights and duties. All states condemn al-Asad and want him to resign to allow the Syrians live their life without violence or violation of their rights. The crimes of the regime in Syria must be added to the record of its crime because when al-Asad falls alive in the hands of justice, many cases will be waiting for him and he will be condemned certainly. He ordered killing and wounding many people who fell as victims of the horrible operations that were carried out by the men of the regime who dealt with the Syrians horribly and did not consider that they live in the same home. The crimes of Bashar prove certainly that he is not trustworthy and that he does not love his home. Otherwise, he would never committed these crimes or spread havoc in his home.
مجيد حميد عباس
2012-8-6
The International Community should take action in order to put an end to the crimes that the Syrian regime is committing against its people, and these were extremely heinous crimes, and legally he deserves the worst punishments. He has killed many innocent people by using the Shabbihah to attack Syrians in their homes and he resorted to shelling people’s houses, mosques and hospitals. Bashar Al-Assad has acted tyrannically, and he has resorted to banned means in order to repress the Syrian people. It is necessary to take the appropriate legal actions against Bashar in order to deter him from the actions that he has committed throughout this year.