A man purporting to be Syria’s deputy oil minister has announced his defection in an online video that emerged Thursday, saying he is joining the opposition against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime to protest its brutal crackdown.
If confirmed, this would be the highest ranking Syrian government official to defect since the uprising began a year ago. There have been scores of army defections who have joined a group of dissidents known as the Free Syrian Army, but civilian government officials have remained largely loyal to Mr. Assad’s regime.
In the video posted on YouTube, a man wearing a suit and tie identified himself as Abdo Husameddine and said he is an “assistant” to the oil minister. Ministers in Syria may have several assistants known as deputies.
Mr. Husameddine said he was also a member of the ruling Baath Party and declared his resignation.
“I, Abdo Hussameddine, deputy oil and mineral resources minister, announce my defection from the regime and resignation from my post … and declare that I am joining the dignified people’s revolution,” he said.
Sitting on a sofa and reading from a paper, Mr. Husameddine said he is defecting because of Mr. Assad’s “brutal” onslaught on the opposition and the Syrian people. He appeared to address Mr. Assad directly.
“You have inflicted on those you claim are your people a full year of sorrow and sadness, denied them the their basic rights to life and humanity and pushed the country to the edge of the abyss,” he said.
It was not clear when or where the video was filmed, and there was no immediate comment from Damascus.
The United Nations says more than 7,500 people have been killed since Syria’s uprising began. Activists put the death count at more than 8,000.
