Is this good news from Russia todaY? General Habib defected last March, but this report is dated today:
The sources have reported that Russia will launch an initiative which will include an agreement to start a transitional phase in Syria, headed by Gen. Habib , aimed at a peaceful solution to the crisis within framework of the Geneva Conference 2 and averting the intervention by the US military.
Another good sign are the defections among the ranks of the Assad regime are increasing. This is a good sign of a breakdown within the regime.
Check out this award winning, interactive, Al Jazeera record of Syrian defections
Visualisation tracking officials who quit Assad's regime won the 2013 Online Media Awards for best technical innovation.
NUMBER OF HIGH LEVEL DEFECTIONS
Senior Military & Security Officials: 82
Cabinet: 3
Parliament: 4
Diplomats: 14
Total: 103
As the uprising progressed, military generals and soldiers began to defect from the Syrian army to form the rebel Free Syrian Army. A large number of soldiers fled to neighbouring Turkey while others remained in Syria to battle government forces.
There are two former Assad Generals of interest who have defected and joined the Assad opposition forces, according to reports:
Adnan Silu, Major General and former head of Syria's chemical weapons program - July 2012 defected to the opposition.
Brig. Gen Mohammed Nour Ezzedeen Khallouf - chief of supplies and logistics of Syrian Armed Forces, March 2013
If anyone knows where the chemical weapons are/were stored, it would be these two Generals. Hopefully, they can be helpful to those hoping to topple Assad both within and without Syria and to rid Syria of chemical weapons.
That's all for today.