PM’s defection means Syria is ‘crumbling’?

The defection of Riad Farid Hijab, the Syrian prime minister and the most most senior Syrian figure to join the opposition, was interpreted by Western powers as a sign that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad is crumbling. A US White House spokesman described these defections as a “loosening” of Assad’s grip on power, while the French Foreign Minister said the Assad government was “doomed.” Hijab’s spokesman said that the defection was planned “for months” and encouraged other officials to do the same. Clashes have continued in the second city of Aleppo where rebel fighters are resisting a bombardment by government artillery and fighter jets.

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and Al-Jazeera.