Son of ex-Syrian defense minister defects
By BEN HUBBARDBy BEN HUBBARD, Associated Press?
?This citizen journalism image provided by Shaam News Network SNN, taken on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, purports to show a helicopter gunship flying a bombing run in al-Qalmoun, Syria, (AP Photo/Shaam News Network, SNN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS CITIZEN JOURNALIST IMAGE
This citizen journalism image provided by Shaam News Network SNN, taken on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, purports to show a helicopter gunship flying a bombing run in al-Qalmoun, Syria, (AP Photo/Shaam News Network, SNN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS CITIZEN JOURNALIST IMAGE
This citizen journalism image provided by Shaam News Network SNN, taken on Monday, July 23, 2012, purports to show damage from heavy shelling of the al-Qadam district of Damascus, Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network, SNN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS CITIZEN JOURNALIST IMAGE
This citizen journalism image provided by Shaam News Network SNN, taken on Monday, July 23, 2012, purports to show the destruction from fighting in the Mazza district of Damascus, Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network, SNN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS CITIZEN JOURNALIST IMAGE
This citizen journalism image provided by Shaam News Network SNN, taken on Monday, July 23, 2012, purports to show heavy shelling of the al-Qadam district of Damascus, Syria. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network, SNN) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS CITIZEN JOURNALIST IMAGE
In this image made from amateur video released by the Ugarit News and accessed Monday, July 23, 2012, smoke rises from buildings in Homs, Syria. (AP Photo/Ugarit News via AP video) TV OUT, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE CONTENT, DATE, LOCATION OR AUTHENTICITY OF THIS MATERIAL
BEIRUT (AP) ? A top Syrian military commander, a close friend of Syrian President Bashar Assad, has confirmed his defection from the regime.
Brig. Gen. Manaf Tlass, son of a former defense minister, said in a video broadcast on Al-Arabiya TV that Syrians must work together to build a new, democratic country.
It was his first public appearance since he left Syria earlier this month. His long silence raised questions about whether he had joined the anti-Assad uprising or merely fled the civil war.
Tlass is the highest-level defector from the Syrian regime in 17 months of bloodshed that activists say has killed more than 19,000 people.
He was a member of the elite Republican Guard and son of former Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass.
The younger Tlass did not say where he is.
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