07/08/2012 | Printed Edition
Syria’s prime minister defected yesterday, evidence that the widening cracks in President Bashar al-Assad’s regime have reached the highest echelons of government. Riad Hijab is the highest-level political figure to switch sides and is certain to encourage rebels after a string of military and diplomatic figures abandoned the regime. A Jordanian official and a rebel spokesman said he fled to Jordan. Other sources said he could be headed to Qatar.