Metransparent Exclusive
Syrian sources speculated that discussions for the formation of a transitional government in exile have taken a concrete turn after the defection of Syria’s prime minister Riyad Hijab accompanied by three ministers and a few army generals.
Metransparent sources noted that Mr. Hijab could benefit from a certain arab and international credibility, having been nominated by Assad on the basis of constitutional amendments intended, at the time, to give the (false) impression that the syrian regime was sincere about reforming its ways.
Sources speculated the transitional government would include Mr. Hijab, his three ministers, the head of the National Syrian Council, Mr. Abdel Bassit Sida (a kurd), Mr. Burhan Ghalioun, General Manaf Tlass (who had defected last month) and representatives of the Free Syrian Army.
The new transitional government is expected to make an appeal to the regular syrian army to retreat to its barracks and to recognize its authority. Such an appeal, if obeyed, would be crucial in avoiding the ‘iraqi scenario’ dreaded by most syrians. Most of the opposition figures seem decided to avoid the dissolution of the army which, in Iraq, led to a protracted civil war ant to tens of thousands of victims of terror attacks.
Mr. Hijad could be a convenient figure to convince the military hierarchy to side with the opposition, hopefully including some of the high ranking Alaouite officers whose defection could ensure a soft landing from dictatorship to an new democratic regime.
In which case, the transitional government headed by Mr. Rihyad Hijad would supervise free elections under the watch of international observers for the first time in fifty years.