Syria’s highest ranking diplomat to defect to the opposition has dismissed the main international plan seeking to stop the violence, saying nothing short of President Bashar Assad’s departure is acceptable.

Syria has sacked its ambassador to Iraq after he defected to the opposition.

The Syrian ambassador to Iraq has defected and will seek asylum in Turkey, the most senior diplomat to abandon the regime since the uprising against president Bashar Assad began 16 months ago, a Syrian opposition figure said today.