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Syrian fighter pilot defects to Jordan Syrian fighter pilot defects to Jordan
(39 minutes later)
A Syrian fighter plane has landed at a military air base in the north of Jordan and the pilot has asked for asylum, Jordanian officials say.A Syrian fighter plane has landed at a military air base in the north of Jordan and the pilot has asked for asylum, Jordanian officials say.
Jordan's Minister of Information Samih al-Maaytah said the pilot of the MiG 21 jet was being debriefed.Jordan's Minister of Information Samih al-Maaytah said the pilot of the MiG 21 jet was being debriefed.
Syrian state TV said a fighter plane, flown by an air force colonel, had gone missing during a training mission.Syrian state TV said a fighter plane, flown by an air force colonel, had gone missing during a training mission.
The incident comes amid shelling in the city of Homs where Red Cross teams are poised to evacuate civilians. The incident comes as violence has prevented Red Cross teams from moving civilians out of the old city of Homs.
Unprecedented defection
The Russian-made MiG-21 landed at the King Hussein Air Base in Mafraq, close to the Syrian border, officials said.The Russian-made MiG-21 landed at the King Hussein Air Base in Mafraq, close to the Syrian border, officials said.
It is believed to be the first such defection by a Syrian pilot with his plane.It is believed to be the first such defection by a Syrian pilot with his plane.
A spokesman for the rebel Free Syrian Army, Ahmad Kassem, said the group had encouraged the pilot to defect, the Associated Press news agency reported.A spokesman for the rebel Free Syrian Army, Ahmad Kassem, said the group had encouraged the pilot to defect, the Associated Press news agency reported.
The Syrian state news agency Sana named the pilot as Col Hassan Mirei al-Hamadeh, and said his plane was near the southern border when contact was lost at around 10:34 (07:34 GMT).The Syrian state news agency Sana named the pilot as Col Hassan Mirei al-Hamadeh, and said his plane was near the southern border when contact was lost at around 10:34 (07:34 GMT).
A Jordanian security source said the pilot had flown from al-Dumair military airport, north-east of Damascus.A Jordanian security source said the pilot had flown from al-Dumair military airport, north-east of Damascus.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says Col Hamadeh may well have flown over the Deraa area close to the southern border where some of the bloodiest fighting of the day has been reported.The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says Col Hamadeh may well have flown over the Deraa area close to the southern border where some of the bloodiest fighting of the day has been reported.
According to activists, as many as 18 people died when the town of Inkhel was hit by shells and a series of raids by government forces.According to activists, as many as 18 people died when the town of Inkhel was hit by shells and a series of raids by government forces.
Heavy shellingHeavy shelling
In Homs, government forces and rebel fighters agreed on Wednesday to a two-hour ceasefire to allow aid workers into the worst affected areas. In Homs, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that it had the green light from government forces as well as assurances from opposition groups that there would be a two-hour pause in fighting in the worst affected areas of the city to allow aid and medical supplies to be brought in and trapped civilians to be taken out.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), along with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, has teams ready to evacuate civilians and deliver aid, but shelling was continuing. But spokeswoman Carla Haddad Mardini told the BBC that the team had had to turn back "due to shooting and the security situation".
"The team is now in Homs city and will attempt today to return to the area. They have re-established contact with both sides," she said.
Waleed Faris, a resident of one area the ICRC was trying to enter, said shelling had been heaviest at dawn on Thursday but there were signs it was subsiding.Waleed Faris, a resident of one area the ICRC was trying to enter, said shelling had been heaviest at dawn on Thursday but there were signs it was subsiding.
"Early this morning there was heavy shelling. Now I can hear one or two mortars fall every half an hour. It is quiet today compared to the past few days," he told Reuters news agency."Early this morning there was heavy shelling. Now I can hear one or two mortars fall every half an hour. It is quiet today compared to the past few days," he told Reuters news agency.
The ICRC's regional head of operations, Beatrice Megevand-Roggo, said fighting had been raging for more than 10 days and hundreds of people were trapped.
Our correspondent says it appears some practical details could also be holding up the mission, such as how many aid vehicles are allowed in and where the wounded would be transferred to.
It could take hours, or days, to resolve, he says.
Russian helicoptersRussian helicopters
In a separate development, Russia's foreign ministry has confirmed for the first time that a cargo ship that was stopped off the north coast of Scotland and sent back to Russia was carrying attack helicopters destined for Syria.In a separate development, Russia's foreign ministry has confirmed for the first time that a cargo ship that was stopped off the north coast of Scotland and sent back to Russia was carrying attack helicopters destined for Syria.
The MV Alaed had its insurance withdrawn because The Standard Club in London, which supplied its cover, said the ship had "broken internal rules".The MV Alaed had its insurance withdrawn because The Standard Club in London, which supplied its cover, said the ship had "broken internal rules".
UN observers have expressed fears recently about the use of such helicopters in attacks by government forces.UN observers have expressed fears recently about the use of such helicopters in attacks by government forces.
The UK Foreign Office has already asserted that the Alaed was carrying refurbished Russian-made attack helicopters. Now, Russian ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich has told reporters that the ship is heading for the port of Murmansk with Mi-25 helicopters on board "which are the property of the Syrian government".The UK Foreign Office has already asserted that the Alaed was carrying refurbished Russian-made attack helicopters. Now, Russian ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich has told reporters that the ship is heading for the port of Murmansk with Mi-25 helicopters on board "which are the property of the Syrian government".
He said they had been repaired by Russia according to agreements and underlined Moscow's insistence that it is not supplying the Damascus government with hardware that can be used against peaceful demonstrators.He said they had been repaired by Russia according to agreements and underlined Moscow's insistence that it is not supplying the Damascus government with hardware that can be used against peaceful demonstrators.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Ekho Moskvy radio: "We are not breaching anything and we will perform our contractual obligations, which are not outside the restrictions imposed by the UN Security Council."
Last week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused Russia of escalating the conflict by supplying Syria with attack helicopters, although US officials later acknowledged the helicopters had been refurbished.Last week, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused Russia of escalating the conflict by supplying Syria with attack helicopters, although US officials later acknowledged the helicopters had been refurbished.