London, Dec 26 (IANS) The commander of Syria’s military police has defected from President Bashar-al Assad’s government and fled to Turkey, BBC reported.
Lt. Gen. Abulaziz al-Shalal is one of the highest-ranking officials to join the uprising against the Syrian regime.
After reportedly crossing the border into Turkey, Shalal released a statement saying he had defected because the military had perpetrated massacres in towns and villages instead of protecting Syrians.
“I declare my defection from the army because of its deviation from its fundamental mission to protect the nation and transformation into gangs of murder and destruction,” BBC quoted Shalal as saying in the video message posted online.
Opposition sources said the commander had been secretly cooperating with the rebels from the outset.
But Shalal said defecting was becoming more difficult because of the increased level of surveillance.
“Definitely, there are other high-ranking officers who want to defect but the situation is not suitable for them to declare defection,” he said.
