Senior Syrian official defects over crackdown - story about armed gangs all lies

[tabatha]

A senior Syrian official has defected to the opposition movement in protest of the government’s ten-month crackdown on peaceful protests that has claimed thousands of lives across the country.

Mahmoud Souleiman Hajj Hamad, the head inspector of the country’s defence ministry, held a press conference on Wednesday in Cairo to announce his defection.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Hamad, who was also an auditor for the interior ministry, denied government claims that the ongoing violence was caused by “terrorists” aided from abroad.

“We were analysing and seeing for ourselves that the regime’s story about armed gangs going out and killing protesters was all lies,” he said. “I confirm there are no armed gangs, they are all unarmed protesters.”

Edit - for link, sorry forgot
http://mar15.info/2012/01/senior-syrian-official-defects-over-crackdown/

[tabatha]

1. Iran and Iraq helping Syria

Hamad also said most government officials and employees want to defect but are afraid of the consequences.

“Syrian government officials live in a kind of prison…No one can go anywhere without being accompanied by a member of the security services,” he added.

Hamad continued that he has seen proof that Iran and Iraq are aiding the Syrian government’s crackdown.

“The Syrian regime receives financial support from Iraq and Iran,” said Hamad, without providing details.

[pampango]

2. Is there a link for the text in the OP, Tabatha? n/t

[tabatha]

3. I updated post.