Bashar Al Assad's regime controls no more than 30 per cent of Syria and is on the verge of collapse, its former prime minister says.
Appearing in public for the first time since he defected last week and fled with his family to Jordan, Riyad Hijab urged military commanders to join the rebels.
"I tell you out of my experience and the position I occupied that the regime is collapsing, morally, materially and economically," he said in Amman.
Mr Hijab said he felt "pain in his soul" over shelling and other attacks as the the regime stepped up its military offensive. Activists say more than 20,000 people been killed since the uprising began in March last year. "I was powerless to stop the injustice," Mr Hijab said.
"Syria is full of honourable officials and military leaders waiting for the chance to join the revolution. I urge the army to follow the example of Egypt's and Tunisia's armies - take the side of the people."
His portrayal of a dynasty in its death throes was echoed in Mecca, where Syria's membership of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is expected to be suspended during a two-day emergency summit called by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
The Arab League has already suspended Syria, a humiliating rejection for a country that once claimed to be the spearhead of Arab nationalism.
The OIC's secretary general, Ekmeleddin Ihsangolu, said Syria was now an outcast, and Mr Al Assad and his regime were "ignoring the legitimate demands and aspirations of the people" and leading his country down "a dark tunnel which has no clear end".
"Syria should know that the scorched-earth policy has never been a guarantee for stability, or a safety valve," Mr Ihsanoglu said.
The summit in Mecca is an attempt by King Abdullah to prevent differences between supporters and enemies of Mr Al Assad from deepening and spilling over into Syria's neighbours. Along with Turkey and Qatar, Saudi Arabia is backing rebels seeking to overthrow the regime, while Iran is standing by Damascus.
Riyadh has warned that the refusal of Mr Al Assad and his allies to give way risks igniting a regional conflict that could engulf the Muslim world.
The Saudi king is concerned about "friction between the sects", said Abdullah Al Shammri, a political analyst and columnist for the Saudi Arabian newspaper Al Yaum. "Many Sunni Muslims feel that Iran is the reason that we couldn't come to a solution on Syria."
The Saudi minister of culture and information, Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja, said the summit was aimed at "adopting moderation and tolerance, rejecting extremism, terrorism and sectarianism, which definitely lead to rifts" amid "disastrous circumstances" in the region.
The discussions in Mecca are expected to be stormy. Iran, which is represented at the summit by its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has accused the Saudi government of escalating Syria's civil war by supporting and arming the opposition.
The opposition Syrian National Council welcomed moves to revoke Syria's OIC membership. "Any further isolation of the murderous Assad regime is good," said Ausama Monajed, a regional spokesman for the organisation in Dubai. "It will add extra layers of pressure on them and their allies."
It is impossible to gauge what impact a suspension would have on the ground in Syria, where violence is escalating. "The battle in Syria is being fought out on the ground, not in multilateral institutions," said Hussein Ibish, a columnist for the Pan Arab daily Al Hayat and Lebanon Now.
Government and opposition forces continued to battle for control of key districts in Aleppo yesterday as thousands of civilians fled the city. Turkey closed its border yesterday after its main refugee camp reached capacity at 60,000.
Humanitarian aid for civilians caught up in the fighting, as well as the estimated 300,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon, was an important issue of the summit in Mecca, said the OIC's director of political affairs, Mahdi Fathallah.
"It's not just about a political declaration; it is about helping on the ground."
In addition to Syria, the summit will discuss the displacement of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, the Israel-Palestine peace process, instability in Yemen and the takeover of Mali's north by Islamist extremist groups.
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
* Additional reporting by the Associated Press
Brief scores:
Toss: Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi, chose to field
Environment Agency: 193-3 (20 ov)
Ikhlaq 76 not out, Khaliya 58, Ahsan 55
Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi: 194-2 (18.3 ov)
Afridi 95 not out, Sajid 55, Rizwan 36 not out
Result: Pakhtunkhwa won by 8 wickets
UAE SQUAD
Mohammed Naveed (captain), Mohamed Usman (vice captain), Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Imran Haider, Tahir Mughal, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed, Fahad Nawaz, Abdul Shakoor, Sultan Ahmed, CP Rizwan
The Beach Bum
Director: Harmony Korine
Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg
Two stars
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
360Vuz PROFILE
Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin
Last-16
France 4
Griezmann (13' pen), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')
Argentina 3
Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90 3')
The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders
Stuart Kells, Counterpoint Press
ODI FIXTURE SCHEDULE
First ODI, October 22
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Second ODI, October 25
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune
Third ODI, October 29
Venue TBC
Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
Famous left-handers
- Marie Curie
- Jimi Hendrix
- Leonardo Di Vinci
- David Bowie
- Paul McCartney
- Albert Einstein
- Jack the Ripper
- Barack Obama
- Helen Keller
- Joan of Arc
The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
India Test squad
Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Vijay, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Kuldeep, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur
Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
THE BIO:
Sabri Razouk, 74
Athlete and fitness trainer
Married, father of six
Favourite exercise: Bench press
Must-eat weekly meal: Steak with beans, carrots, broccoli, crust and corn
Power drink: A glass of yoghurt
Role model: Any good man
RESULT
Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)
Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)
