Tehran, 6 Feb. (AKI) - The Iranian Republican Guard has reportedly been put on alert to forestall a coup in ally Syria by military figures loyal to former vice president Abdul Halim Khaddam, currently in exile in France. In a reportage from Damascus, the Iranian website Saztab - close to the Republican Guard (Pasdaran) - announced the Pasdaran are examining the backgrounds of many army and airforce officers considered close to the former vice president. | Ah, I love the smell of a purge in the morning |
Late last year, in an interview with the al-Arabiya network, Khaddam denounced the government of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad, saying it had committed many mistakes during its domination of neighbouring Lebanon. Khaddam, a veteran aide to SyriaÂ’s late President Hafez al-Assad, stepped down in June 2005, almost five months after the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.
According to Baztab, Abdolhalim Khaddam who several weeks ago announced he wanted to create a government in exile, is mobilising discontented officers to overthrow the regime of presdent Bashar al-Assad. The former vice president, according to the site, can count on the support of France, the US and Israel in effecting 'regime change'. |