Al-Jazeera Video: Syrian prime minister joins opposition

"There have now been 41 political and military defections from among President Assad's ranks and prime minister Riad Hijab is the most high profile yet.

In March, Brigadier General Manaf Tlass defected. He is the highest ranking military official to leave, and the only one of Assad's inner circle.

General Mohamad Faris also had enough. He was one of Syria's high ranking intelligence officers and the country's first man in space.

Syria's first senior diplomat announced his defection in July. Nawaf al-Fares was Assad's ambassador to Baghdad, and a close friend of the President.

He's been followed by Syria's charge d'affaries to both Cyprus and London."