There have now been 41 political and military defections from among President Assad's ranks and prime minister Riad Hijab is the most high profile yet.<br /><br />In March, Brigadier General Manaf Tlass defected. He is the highest ranking military official to leave, and the only one of Assad's inner circle.<br /> <br />General Mohamad Faris also had enough. He was one of Syria's high ranking intelligence officers and the country's first man in space.<br /> <br />Syria's first senior diplomat announced his defection in July. Nawaf al-Fares was Assad's ambassador to Baghdad, and a close friend of the President. <br /> <br />He's been followed by Syria's charge d'affaries to both Cyprus and London.
