Abdel Halim Khaddam, the former Vice President of Syria, called on President Bashar al-Assad to step down and leave his position, warning him of a fate similar to that of the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. From Khaddam’s perspective, Assad shares qualities with the former Libyan leader, both in terms of actions and the current surrounding circumstances.
However, Khaddam emphasized that the current revolution in Syria is not sectarian but a revolution against the regime. He added, “This revolution is not against the Alawite sect but against the ruling family, its crimes, and its oppressive and corrupt system. Those responsible for all of Bashar al-Assad’s crimes are those who participated in the planning and gave orders for their execution.”
Regarding whether the Libyan scenario would be repeated in Syria, Khaddam said, “The Libyan scenario might be the last scenario. Personally, I hope that the international community intervenes militarily and resolves the current problem because ending it avoids losses and destruction in the country and helps achieve comprehensive stability in the region.”
Khaddam announced his defection at the end of 2005 after his relationship with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad deteriorated, and he continued to call for peaceful change.
Regarding his knowledge of Bashar al-Assad’s nature, Khaddam said, “I tried to help him when he took office, but his problem is that he listens a lot and changes his perspective a lot. If you present a topic to him in the morning, any visitor in the evening can change his convictions… Bashar is an indecisive and emotional person.”
Khaddam confirms that Bashar al-Assad “is the one who gives orders to kill. There is a group of his relatives and security apparatuses that point to him, but the decision-maker in the end is Bashar al-Assad,” according to Khaddam.
