Former Syrian Official: Iraq, Iran Funding Crackdown on Protestors
Iraq and Iran are aiding the Syrian regime financially in its crackdown on protests, a former official in President Bashar Assad's regime alleged Thursday in a report on al-Jazeera's website.
Mahmoud Suleiman Haj Hamad made the allegations at a press conference in Cairo after announcing his defection from the regime, according to the satellite network's Arabic-language website.
"The Syrian regime receives financial support from Iraq and Iran," said Hamad, without providing details.
Damascus has spent some two billion Syrian pounds ($40 million, 31 million euros) on payments to local militias to suppress the anti-government protests that the U.N. says has left more than 5,000 people dead since March, he added.
In a separate statement to the al-Arabiya satellite channel, Hamad said many Syrian officials want to defect but "they are too afraid."
"Everyone wants to defect but they're too worried about their families," he said.
"Syrian government officials live in a kind of prison ... No one can go anywhere without being accompanied by a member of the security services," he added.
05 January 2012, 15:09
20
the industrial complex alliance of usa saudia qattariyye and yemeniyye bought this idiot to speaky speaky things that no body believes. Henceforth, his claims will only be believed by the traitors and zionists and mossadic people.
05 January 2012, 15:55
02
Jabalamil, how are things in the lala land? seeing the rainbows yet? any magical butterflies and little birds fluttering about?
05 January 2012, 18:45
01
Jabalamel: You are full of crap, and everyone who reads your comments knows it, as well. Shut your mouth and go sit in the corner, you clown. No one with a right and logical mind, listens to you, nor believes you. You must think everyone is stupid, but they are not. It is YOU, who is blind....
05 January 2012, 19:33
01
he also mentionned how hezbollah and amal parties were involved in beating and shooting on people and also that some M8 leaders go regularly to damascus to get their envelopp full of dollars...
