(Image Source: Al Jazeera )


BY JOHN O’CONNOR

ANCHOR LOGAN TITTLE

The Syrian ambassador to Iraq has defected to the opposition — becoming the first diplomat to do so. Al Jazeera has more .

“Nawaf Fares is the highest ranking political official to desert Bashar al-Assad’s government since the uprising in Syria started.”

Confirmation of Fares’s departure marks the second high-profile defection from the regime in less than a week — Brigadier General Manaf Tlas defected just last Friday. The Independent reports Tlas has made no public comment since fleeing Syria, but Fares made his stance very public.

“... Fares posted a video statement on Facebook yesterday that repeatedly said government forces [have] been killing civilians.”

In the video Fares encouraged other diplomats to defect as well. Sky News has the comments .

“I call on all party members to do the same, because the regime has transformed it into a tool to oppress the Syrian people and their aspirations to freedom and dignity.”

Fares attributes the oppression as the reason behind his defection. But a BBC correspondent explains another circumstance that influenced his decision.

“He is Sunni, from the majority, and of course the uprising is Sunni based against another white-ruled minority regime.”

Sunni-led opposition groups in Syria have called Fares’s defections the beginning of the end of the regime. But political analysts are cautious to make any early predictions. The New York Times reports .

“Alawites, who represent only about 12 percent of the population, remain intensely loyal to Mr. Assad, and none of his close Alawite confidants have abandoned him. ‘There are indications to me that the Sunni insulation is cracking,’ said a Syria expert... ‘But these people are not from the core. It’s an important distinction.’”

According to the Financial Times and Reuters, opposition sources say two more Syrian ambassadors are preparing to defect following Fares’s announcement.