Syrian prime minister Riad Hijab today joined the revolution against President Assad’s government.
It is the highest profile desertion from the regime since the uprising began in March last year.
Mr Hijab, who is said to have fled across the border to Jordan with his family, is a Sunni Muslim from Deir al-Zour, which has been under heavy shelling for several weeks as regime forces try to dislodge rebels. The opposition Syrian National Council claimed a further two ministers and three army generals had defected at the same time.
Downing Street said reports of the defection showed that the Assad regime was “bankrupt and has lost all legitimacy”. Syrian state TV claimed that Mr Hijab, who was appointed less than two months ago, had been fired.
Mr Hijab said in a statement on Al Jazeera: “I announce today my defection from the killing and terrorist regime. I announce that I am from today a soldier in this blessed revolution.” Omar Ghalawanji, previously a deputy prime minister, was reported to have been appointed head of a caretaker government.
