Posted by BH 4:30 am 3-8

Syria's deputy oil minister defects

Thu Mar 8, 2012 1:01am GMT

 

AMMAN, March 8 (Reuters) - Syrian Deputy Oil Minister Abdo Hussameldin announced his defection on Thursday, becoming the highest ranking civilian official to abandon President Bashar al-Assad since the uprising against his rule erupted a year ago.
"I Abdo Hussameldin, deputy oil and mineral wealth minister in Syria, announce my defection from the regime, resignation from my position and withdrawal from the Baath Party. I join the revolution of this dignified people," Hussameldin said in a YouTube video.
The authenticity of the video could not be immediately confirmed. (Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Amman newsroom)