Syrian politician defects to join rivals

A MEMBER of Syria’s parliament has left the country to join the opposition against President Bashar Assad’s regime, saying the Syrian people are suffering sweeping human rights violations.

Imad Ghalioun, who represents the central city of Homs, told Al-Arabiya TV that the city, which has been one of the most restive in the uprising against Assad’s rule since March, was a disaster after months of being a focus of the regime’s fierce crackdown.

“The Syrian people are living their worst period,” Ghalioun said from Egypt.