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Syria defector Tlas hints France intelligence aided escape Syria defector Manaf Tlas hints at French intelligence aid
(about 1 hour later)
Key Syrian defector Gen Manaf Tlas has hinted 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.
He said French "services" had helped him escape, but refused to be drawn on how, only thanking the French government. He said French "services" had helped him escape but refused to be drawn on how, only thanking the French government.
He said he could not reveal more for fear that he could endanger those who had helped him.He said he could not reveal more for fear that he could endanger those who had helped him.
Gen Tlas was speaking from his refuge in Paris to interviewers from BBC Arabic and French news channel BFMTV.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.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.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". Gen Tlas has been touted as a potential figurehead for the opposition but many reject him as too deeply compromised, reports the BBC's Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher.
"Since the start of the revolution, I had contacts with the revolutionaries, with the rebels," he told BFMTV and BBC Arabic. No 'foreign intervention'
"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. Gen Tlas told BFMTV and BBC Arabic that Syria was at a "dangerous crossroads" and he urged the international community to "focus all its efforts to draft a real roadmap to get Syria out of this crisis".
"I told the insurgents since the beginning that I had cut ties with the regime and that I agreed with their actions." But he said he was "of course against foreign intervention of any shape or form in Syria", saying the Syrian people had to "achieve their own victory" and the international community could only help by "putting a new strategy for the revolution".
The question of foreign intervention has divided the UN over Syria, with Russia and China refusing to back UN sanctions against their ally.
As well as French groups, Gen Tlas said the Free Syrian Army had helped in his escape "from a distance".
He suggested that his "defection" from the government had begun long before he physically fled his country when he withdrew to his office, alienated by the authorities' violent response to protests.
"On the third month of the revolution I defected from the regime," he said.
"I met demonstrators and rebels, listened to their demands and felt that the regime is not willing to change.
"I felt that the regime was lying to the rebels and was searching for shortcuts. I withdrew to my office, did not listen to anyone and decided to defect and help the rebels."
Conference proposal
Gen Tlas said many of the rebels he had met had been "imprisoned, murdered or tortured as a result of making real humanitarian demands".
But he said the "revolution" had been "transformed into a conspiracy which the government exploited".
"But no! The revolution is real!" he said.
Gen Tlas also warned that the Syrian government would not hesitate to use chemical weapons if it felt it had to.Gen Tlas also warned that the Syrian government would not hesitate to use chemical weapons if it felt it had to.
He urged his former friend, President Bashar al-Assad, to give up power not just for Syria's sake, but for that of his family.
On Monday, it emerged that Russia was proposing organising a conference bringing together "all the players" of the deadly Syria conflict, including opposition groups, ordinary citizens and the ruling regime.
In an interview scheduled to be published by leading French daily Le Figaro on Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov reportedly said the conference would be organised along the lines of the Taif conference that ended Lebanon's civil war in 1990.