Assad Isolation Grows as Rebels Claim Syria PM Defected

Syria’s Prime Minister Riad Hijab has defected and joined rebel forces in the highest-ranking departure since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began last year, opposition leaders said.

Hijab left the country with three other cabinet ministers, Colonel Riad al-Asaad, commander of the Free Syrian Army, said in interview from the Turkish-Syrian border yesterday. Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said officials haven’t heard from Hijab, who was dismissed from office. Zoubi also rejected reports that ministers defected and the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said that all ministers attended a Cabinet meeting. The Associated Press reported that a Jordanian official, whose name it withheld, confirmed that Hijab defected with his family.