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Syria defector Tlas says France intelligence aided escape Syria defector Tlas hints France intelligence aided escape
(35 minutes later)
Defected Syrian General Manaf Tlas has revealed that French secret agents helped him flee Syria in early July. Key Syrian defector Gen Manaf Tlas has hinted that French secret agents helped him flee Syria in early July.
"The French secret services helped me get out of Syria and I thank them for that," he told French news channel BFMTV. He said French "services" had helped him escape, but refused to be drawn on how, only thanking the French government.
Gen Tlas also warned in an interview with BBC Arabic that the Syrian government would not hesitate to use chemical weapons if it felt it had to. He said he could not reveal more for fear that he could endanger those who had helped him.
He was speaking in Paris, where he has taken refuge. Gen Tlas was speaking from his refuge in Paris to interviewers from BBC Arabic and French news channel BFMTV.
Gen Tlas's defection was seen as a major blow to the Damascus government.
Not only did he command the elite 10th Brigade of the Republican Guard, but his father Mustafa Tlas served as defence minister for 30 years and was a confidant of Hafez al-Assad, the president's father and predecessor.
As well as France, Gen Tlas said the Free Syrian Army had helped in his escape "from a distance".
"Since the start of the revolution, I had contacts with the revolutionaries, with the rebels," he told BFMTV and BBC Arabic.
"During the first few days and and months, I felt that the regime kept lying. That is the reason why I initially defected whilst staying in my office.
"I told the insurgents since the beginning that I had cut ties with the regime and that I agreed with their actions."
Gen Tlas also warned that the Syrian government would not hesitate to use chemical weapons if it felt it had to.