Former Syrian Vice President Abdel-Halim Khaddam has become the country's first high-level official to break ranks with the Syrian government and join the country's external opposition, adding to a sense of unease on the Damascus street for the future of the regime.
From self-imposed exile in Paris over the past two weeks, Mr. Khaddam called on the Syrian opposition to join him in overthrowing the regime, calling President Bashar al-Assad a "traitor" who has caused "serious damage" to the country.