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| High-Ranking Syrian General Defects, as an Uprising Enters Its 3rd Year | High-Ranking Syrian General Defects, as an Uprising Enters Its 3rd Year |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BEIRUT, Lebanon — A high-ranking Syrian general announced his defection from the army on Saturday, a day after the rebels’ top military commander renewed his call for members of the armed forces to join the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, now entering its third year. | BEIRUT, Lebanon — A high-ranking Syrian general announced his defection from the army on Saturday, a day after the rebels’ top military commander renewed his call for members of the armed forces to join the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, now entering its third year. |
| The defector, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Nour Ezzedeen Khallouf, the army’s chief of supplies and logistics, appeared briefly on Saturday in a broadcast on Al Arabiya in a camouflage uniform. | |
| “Arrangements for the defection from the current Assadi regime started a while ago,” he said. “There was coordination with several sides from various factions of the Syrian revolution.” | “Arrangements for the defection from the current Assadi regime started a while ago,” he said. “There was coordination with several sides from various factions of the Syrian revolution.” |
| His acceptance into the rebels’ ranks underscores their assertion that they will welcome anyone who switches sides even now, so deep into the conflict. General Khallouf previously commanded the Palestine Branch of the military intelligence department, a Damascus headquarters where, according to rebels and watchdog groups, many opposition members have been tortured. | His acceptance into the rebels’ ranks underscores their assertion that they will welcome anyone who switches sides even now, so deep into the conflict. General Khallouf previously commanded the Palestine Branch of the military intelligence department, a Damascus headquarters where, according to rebels and watchdog groups, many opposition members have been tortured. |
| Yet there have been no reports of widespread decisive defections in response to a video address in English and Arabic released Friday by Gen. Salim Idriss, who defected last July and now leads the Free Syrian Army’s unified military command. | Yet there have been no reports of widespread decisive defections in response to a video address in English and Arabic released Friday by Gen. Salim Idriss, who defected last July and now leads the Free Syrian Army’s unified military command. |
| And a rebel commander in Turkey, Abul Hassan, who confirmed the defection of General Khallouf and his son, an army captain, said that while his high rank was notable among defections, his departure would not change things for the government, which could easily replace him. | And a rebel commander in Turkey, Abul Hassan, who confirmed the defection of General Khallouf and his son, an army captain, said that while his high rank was notable among defections, his departure would not change things for the government, which could easily replace him. |
| Protests across Syria to comemmorate the uprising’s two-year anniversary were small and muted compared with the exuberant demonstrations that set off the revolt two years ago. That underscored the growing sense that the Syrian conflict is nowhere near an end. The government remains dug in and is willing to use extreme force, and neither side seems eager for a political settlement. | |
| The Syrian government has increased its use of cluster bombs, a weapon that is widely banned because the bombs that do not explode on impact often injure civilians who find them, the international watchdog group Human Rights Watch said in a report issued Saturday. It was based on field investigations and an analysis of more than 450 videos posted online, largely by antigovernment activists. | The Syrian government has increased its use of cluster bombs, a weapon that is widely banned because the bombs that do not explode on impact often injure civilians who find them, the international watchdog group Human Rights Watch said in a report issued Saturday. It was based on field investigations and an analysis of more than 450 videos posted online, largely by antigovernment activists. |
| Before hitting the ground, cluster bombs release dozens of bomblets that detonate over a wide area and often pose a long-lasting danger to civilians, especially children who may pick them up. | Before hitting the ground, cluster bombs release dozens of bomblets that detonate over a wide area and often pose a long-lasting danger to civilians, especially children who may pick them up. |
| In the past six months, the Syrian government has dropped 156 cluster bombs in 119 places, said Human Rights Watch, which is based in New York. Two recent strikes alone killed 11 civilians, including two women and five children, the group said. | In the past six months, the Syrian government has dropped 156 cluster bombs in 119 places, said Human Rights Watch, which is based in New York. Two recent strikes alone killed 11 civilians, including two women and five children, the group said. |
| Also on Saturday, a Lebanese airport official said that Bouthaina Shaaban, a government minister who was long a cosmopolitan face of Mr. Assad’s government, left Syria on Friday. It was later announced that she was traveling to South Africa on a mission for the government. | Also on Saturday, a Lebanese airport official said that Bouthaina Shaaban, a government minister who was long a cosmopolitan face of Mr. Assad’s government, left Syria on Friday. It was later announced that she was traveling to South Africa on a mission for the government. |
| Before the uprising, Ms. Shaaban portrayed herself as an advocate of reform and modernization, but she has rarely been seen since she offered her forceful support for the security forces during the early days of the crackdown on protesters. The uprising began peacefully, but elements of the opposition eventually took up arms after security forces fired on demonstrators. | Before the uprising, Ms. Shaaban portrayed herself as an advocate of reform and modernization, but she has rarely been seen since she offered her forceful support for the security forces during the early days of the crackdown on protesters. The uprising began peacefully, but elements of the opposition eventually took up arms after security forces fired on demonstrators. |
| Ms. Shaaban traveled by road from Damascus to Beirut in neighboring Lebanon, and was briefly detained at the airport on her way to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the official said. | Ms. Shaaban traveled by road from Damascus to Beirut in neighboring Lebanon, and was briefly detained at the airport on her way to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the official said. |
| She is wanted for questioning by the Lebanese authorities in the case of Michel Samaha, a Lebanese minister who has been indicted on charges of smuggling explosives at the behest of the Syrian authorities to attack Lebanese religious figures. | She is wanted for questioning by the Lebanese authorities in the case of Michel Samaha, a Lebanese minister who has been indicted on charges of smuggling explosives at the behest of the Syrian authorities to attack Lebanese religious figures. |
| Lebanon is sharply divided over the Syrian conflict, with some factions supporting Mr. Assad and others opposing him. | Lebanon is sharply divided over the Syrian conflict, with some factions supporting Mr. Assad and others opposing him. |
Hania Mourtada and Hwaida Saad contributed reporting. | Hania Mourtada and Hwaida Saad contributed reporting. |