Former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam accused the current President Bashar al-Assad of instructing the regime’s media outlets to launch an attack against him due to his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Khaddam, commenting on the media attack he faced, stated from his residence in Paris to Al Jazeera, “In Syria, there is no media, but rather orders coming from the security agencies or from the office of the regime’s president, Bashar al-Assad.”
He mentioned that he visited Saudi Arabia a few days ago to perform Umrah (a pilgrimage), and he met with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and his deputy, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, upon their request.
The former official, who defected from the regime in December last year, declined to disclose the details of his meeting with King Abdullah. He said, “I don’t want to talk about my political meetings with any Arab official because discussing that matter is the responsibility of that Arab official.”
Khaddam reiterated his criticism of the Syrian regime, stating, “It is not reformable and cannot continue,” emphasizing that “it will fall despite the efforts of this or that entity to assist it.”
