al-Jazeera: Rifaat al-Assad and the Syrian opposition

Commenting on the decision by Rifaat al-Assad to return back very shortly to Syria to resume political activities, the Syrian political activist and chairman of the freedoms center Michael Kilo said in a telephone call with al-Jazeera TV from Damascus that Rifaat al-Assad has always reminding of himself since his exile, thinking that he still carries a democratic program and he has a vision to solve Syria's problems starting as from peace with Israel, reconciliation with the USA and internal reforms through abrogating the emergency law.

On whether Rifaat al-Assad has been receiving support from any side, Kilo said he does not know precisely, but he indicated that Rifaat is close to Gulf circles especially Saudi Arabia and that he is talking in a loud voice since a while about making change in Syria and calls for reforms and democracy via ANN TV owned by his son.

Concerning the possibility of making an alliance with Rifaat al-Assad or with any opposition force in Syria, Kilo ruled out that, noting that these forces had negative experiences with Rifaat al-Assad who Kilo added, experienced violence and had problems with the Syrian people and he has to explain the role he had played between 1970- 1983.