Jordan's Information Minister says political asylum is granted to the Syrian pilot who flew his fighter jet just over the Syrian border and into Jordan.<br/> <br />On Thursday, a Syrian Air Force pilot asked for sanctuary after landing his MiG-21 airplane at King Hussein air base - north of Amman.<br/> <br />Syria's Defence Ministry says the pilot - identified as Colonel Hassan Hamada - is a "traitor" and Syria wants the plane returned.<br/> <br />This is the first defection involving a military aircraft - although thousands of soldiers have defected since the 15-month uprising against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad began.<br/> <br />Elsewhere - amateur video - that cannot be independently verified by Reuters - purportedly showed continued shelling by Syrian forces in the city of Homs.<br/> <br />An aid group said that the violence had been forced aid workers to turn back - despite an agreement allowing them to evacuate the sick and wounded.<br/> <br />Syria has said rebel forces blocked evacuation efforts from the ancient Syrian city.<br/> <br />Sarah Irwin, Reuters.
