Financial Times: Muslim Brotherhood leader supports Syrian defector, Khaddam
Syria, Politics, 1/7/2006

The leader of Syria's opposition Muslim Brothers has indicated that his group might back a change of regime supporting Abdul-Halim Khaddam, the recently defected former vice-president now presenting himself as an alternative.

Ali Sadreddine Bayanouni, the exiled head of the Muslim Brothers, the most powerful opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, told the Financial Times that his movement was willing to work for political transition in Syria with former regime officials who are ready to commit themselves to democratic change.

"For us, getting rid of the dictatorial regime could come in many ways. During the transition it could happen through people within the regime," said Bayanouni when asked whether he would back change led by Khaddam. He added that a transition period would have to be followed by democratic elections.

The UK-based Bayanouni, the leader of the Sunni Islamist movement outlawed in Syria, said that although he was not convinced by Khaddam's stated democratic credentials, he was willing to assume that "he had woken up and decided to defect because the regime is leading the country towards a catastrophe." Khaddam, he added, still had to explain his change of heart and past role, but that he could nevertheless "contribute to change in Syria."

Bayanouni said the former official's break with the regime could lead to other defections. "I think Khaddam will encourage others. We hope that whether they are Alawite or Sunni, others should leave. The future of this regime is disastrous," he said.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Osboo: Al-Assad refuses to meet UN investigators, denies threatening Hariri   (1/7/2006)
  Syrian opposition distance itself from Khaddam   (1/7/2006)
  Washington Post: Jumblat calls US to do in Syria what it did in Iraq   (1/6/2006)
  Khaddam calls on al-Assad to resign   (1/6/2006)

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