Syrian Prime Minister Riad Farid Hijab Defects to Jordan

by NowPublic Staff | August 6, 2012 at 09:55 am

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Riad Farid Hijab Flees Syria

The Syrian government just lost its Prime Minister, as Riad Farid Hijab defected to Jordan. Riad Farid Hijab has only held the job for two months, and is the highest-ranking official (among many) to have abandoned Bashar al-Assad's regime as the Syrian civil war continues.

Riad Farid Hijab's defection was confirmed on Monday, August 6, 2012. Syrian state television said that Hijab was fired (as we would expect), but Hijab said that the decision was his:

"I announce today my defection from the killing and terrorist regime and I announce that I have joined the ranks of the freedom and dignity revolution. I announce that I am from today a soldier in this blessed revolution[.]"

Hijab's spokesman said that the defection had been planned since he had become Prime Minister.