Syrian former prime minister Riad Hijab, who crossed into Jordan after defecting earlier this month, said on Tuesday President Bashar al-Assad’s regime now controls only 30 percent of the country.

“Oh devoted revolutionaries, your revolution has become a model of effort and sacrifice for the sake of freedom and dignity. I assure you, from my experience and former position, that the regime is collapsing, spiritually and financially, as it escalates militarily,” he said.

“It no longer controls more than 30 percent of Syrian territory... So let the shining revolution be completed by preserving the unity of the country.”

Hijab said he had made his decision to quit his post on August 5.

“I decided to leave on August 5 after losing hope that this corrupt and brutal regime would change. The trip to Jordan took three days,” he said.

“I have no interest in holding any position, now or in the future following the liberation of Syria.”

Hijab urged Syria’s rebels to “continue their fight against the regime as the Syrian people have high hopes and faith in you.”

“I also call on the Syrian armed forces not to point their guns at the Syrian people.”

Hijab, who like much of the opposition comes from Syria’s Sunni Muslim majority was not part of Assad’s inner circle. But as prime minister and the most senior civilian official to defect, his departure dealt a symbolic blow to the government, which is dominated by Assad’s minority Alawite sect.

Syrian authorities said they had dismissed Hijab before he fled, but he told the news conference in Amman that he resigned and defected to the opposition, referring to the Assad government as an “enemy of God”.

“It is my duty to wash my hands of this corrupt regime,” Hijab said.













AL ARABIYA