Syrian men inspect a hole allegedly made during an airstrike by government forces in the town of Marea, some 35 km ( 21 miles ) north of Aleppo , Syria, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)
Syrian men inspect a hole allegedly made during an airstrike by government forces in the town of Marea, some 35 km ( 21 miles ) north of Aleppo , Syria, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)
This image made from amateur video released by the Shaam News Network purports to show Syrian Pilot Colonel Rafik Mohammed Suleiman being interrogated by a rebel officer after his Soviet-made MiG warplane was apparently hit by ground fire over Deir el-Zour province, an area near the Iraqi border, Syria, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012. If the rebel claim of the downing proves true, it could mark a significant jump in their ability to combat widening air attacks from President Bashar Assad's forces. (AP Photo/Shaam News Network) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS HANDOUT PHOTO
Three men cross from Turkey into Syria through the Bab Al-Salam border crossing, under control of the Free Syrian Army, near the town of Azaz , north of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra)
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) ? Syria's defected prime minister said Tuesday that Bashar Assad's regime was near collapse and urged other political and military leaders to tip the scales and join the rebel side.
"The regime is on the verge of collapse morally and economically," Riad Hijab told a news conference in his first public comments since leaving his post and fleeing to Jordan with his family last week. Hijab is the highest-ranking political figure to defect from Assad's regime.
He said he felt "pain in his soul" over the regime's shelling and other attacks on rebel strongholds as the government stepped up its military offensive. Activists say more than 20,000 people been killed in the struggle since March 2011.
"I was powerless to stop the injustice," he said, speaking in front of the rebel flag.
He called on "honorable leaders" in Syria to defect.
"Syria is full of honorable officials and military leaders who are waiting for the chance to join the revolution," he said.
"I urge the army to follow the example of Egypt's and Tunisia's armies ? take the side of people," he added.
Hijab said he was now backing the rebels, but gave no clue on his plans. There had been speculation that he would travel to the Gulf nation of Qatar, which is one of the rebels' main supporters.
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