Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab has defected from President Bashar al-Assad's government to join "the revolution", his spokesman says.
Text: BBC | Photo: Wikimedia Commons
His spokesman Mohammed el-Etri told al-Jazeera TV that he was in "a safe location".
"I address you today at this grave hour where the country is living under the brunt of genocide and barbarian brutal killing against unarmed people who are simply demanding freedom and a dignified life, " ran Mr Hijab's statement read by his spokesman.
"Today I declare... that I have defected from the terrorist, murderous regime and [am] joining the holy revolution. And I declare that from today I am a soldier of this holy revolution."