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Syrian general, 20 soldiers defect: opposition
Source: Reuters
Syrian general, 20 soldiers defect: opposition
BEIRUT | Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:02pm EDT
(Reuters) - A brigadier general and about 20 soldiers defected from the Syrian army in two separate incidents on Saturday, activists said, in another sign that the strength of President Bashar al-Assad's armed forces is diminishing.
Brigadier General Mohammed Khalouf appeared dressed in a camouflage military uniform in a video on Al Arabiya news channel and said he had planned his escape with the opposition movement for some time.
"It is not possible for anyone to accept any of the ideas of this regime unless they have achieved special interests," he said in the video.
There was no comment about the defection on Syrian state news outlets.
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BEIRUT | Sat Mar 16, 2013 1:02pm EDT
(Reuters) - A brigadier general and about 20 soldiers defected from the Syrian army in two separate incidents on Saturday, activists said, in another sign that the strength of President Bashar al-Assad's armed forces is diminishing.
Brigadier General Mohammed Khalouf appeared dressed in a camouflage military uniform in a video on Al Arabiya news channel and said he had planned his escape with the opposition movement for some time.
"It is not possible for anyone to accept any of the ideas of this regime unless they have achieved special interests," he said in the video.
There was no comment about the defection on Syrian state news outlets.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/16/us-syria-crisis-defections-idUSBRE92F0AC20130316
