Syria's ambassador to Iraq, Nawaf al-Fares, said he had defected and joined the revolution against Bashar al-Assad, becoming the first senior diplomat to quit the embattled government.
According to Reuters, Fares called on Syrian soldiers to follow his lead and turn their guns on the Damascus leadership.
"I declare that I have joined, from this moment, the ranks of the revolution of the Syrian people," he said in a video statement posted on Facebook. "I ask … the members of the military to join the revolution and to defend the country and the citizens … Turn your guns towards the criminals from this regime," he added.
Fares was filmed speaking in front of the green and white Syrian flag from the era before the Ba'ath party took power five decades ago. He did not give details of his location.
A translation of his statement read: "I announce my resignation as Syria's ambassador to Iraq. I also announce my withdrawal from the Ba'ath party and I call on all party members to do the same because the regime has transformed it into a tool to oppress the people and their aspirations to freedom and dignity. I announce, from this moment on, that I am siding with the people's revolution in Syria; my natural place in these difficult circumstances which Syria is going through."
He did not spell out his reasons for defecting, but repeatedly said government forces have been killing civilians during the crackdown on the 16-month-old uprising.
{{/usCountry}}He did not spell out his reasons for defecting, but repeatedly said government forces have been killing civilians during the crackdown on the 16-month-old uprising.
{{/usCountry}}If confirmed, the defection of Fares would be the first of any senior Syrian diplomat since the uprising began 16 months ago.