Nawaf Fares defects to opposition

11 July 2012 Last updated at 22:39 ET Help

Syria's ambassador to Iraq says he has defected to the opposition.

Nawaf Fares is the first senior Syrian diplomat to abandon the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

The move comes just a week after a Syrian general from a powerful family close to President Assad also defected.

Mr Fares confirmed his defection in a statement broadcast on Facebook and al-Jazeera TV.

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