Abdul-Halim Khaddam, the former deputy to the Syrian president, has called for international protection for protesters in Syria. Khaddam, in statements to the London-based newspaper “Al-Sharq Al-Awsat” published today, Sunday, warned against the danger of worsening situations and escalating into an armed conflict between protesters and the regime.
Khaddam criticized the Arab League, stating that it has been too slow in discussing the “crimes” committed in Syria and that it does not meet the demands of the Syrian people to overthrow the regime.
Khaddam, currently residing in Paris, stated that Iran’s supportive stance has not changed toward the regime in Damascus, even with its call for reforms. He mentioned that if the Syrians were to succeed in their revolution, Iranian influence would weaken in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and the region as a whole.
He pointed out Turkey’s stance, saying that ultimately, Turkey supports the Syrian people due to historical relations between the two countries, not to mention familial ties.
Khaddam criticized some factions of the Syrian opposition, stating that there are voices in the opposition “disconnected from the reality of the Syrian street.” He mentioned that the opposition has failed to achieve its goals for more than half a century and that the current revolution is the revolution of the Syrian youth.
Khaddam had turned against the Syrian regime and declared his defection in December 2005 following disagreements with the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
