Syria VP Al-Sharaa appears in public, ending defection rumor

Louai Beshara / AFP - Getty Images

Syrian Vice President Farouk Al-Sharaa (C) on Sunday greets a member of the delegation of the Iranian Shura Council's Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security who are on an official visit to Damascus.

Syrian Vice President Farouk Al-Sharaa has made his first public appearance in several weeks, ending rumors that he defected.

Al-Sharaa was last seen at the funeral of four top Syrian government officials who were killed in a blast in Damascus on July 18. Since then, speculation has circulated that he defected to Jordan in what would have been a blow to Bashar Assad's regime.


Jordan and Al-Sharaa's office repeatedly denied he defected.   On Sunday, reporters saw Al-Sharaa exit his car and walk to his office for a meeting with Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of Iran's powerful parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene said Al-Sharaa looked serious and steered away from reporters covering the meeting. He did not make a statement.

Goran Tomasevic / Reuters

After months of protests and violent crackdowns, a look back at the violence that has overtaken the country.

Syria's state news agency echoed that report, said Al-Sharaa met a parliamentary delegation from Iran, led by Borougerdi.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Discuss this post

This goes to show the "rebels" (terrorists) aren't to be trusted with anything they say.

  • 4 votes
Reply#1 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 9:15 AM EDT

Oh but just ask anyone, the next regime will be so much more peaceful and contributing than the last one was. Standard procedure for anything Islam...

  • 1 vote
#1.1 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 9:28 AM EDT

Trust no one.

  • 1 vote
#1.3 - Tue Aug 28, 2012 5:49 PM EDT

Or it's just further evidence that in times of war facts are harder to come by.

    #1.4 - Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:04 PM EDT
    Reply

    Oh I thought he defected? I guess that entire story that was planted by the West has been debunked now. Time for the truth about this situation. Just come out and admit that these "Freedom" fighters are nothing more than international terrorists being funded and armed by the West and their Allies in an attempt to unseat an unpopular regime. It's the same thing that happened in Libya with the only difference being Russia has troops on the ground in Syria which means the West can't provide Air Support to their little uprising without involving the Russians. That would prove to be a big mistake which could lead to a broader conflict. So the end result is the West is being limited as to how much they can do. When their little uprising loses steam as it has they can't back them up with air power like they did in Libya. So their only option is to wage this propaganda campaign thru the media in an attempt to garner World support which isn't working. So here's what to look for in the coming weeks as the Syrian Government continues to pound down these terrorists. There will be some type of huge murder of innocent civilians which will then be blamed on Government forces when in fact it was carried out by the "Freedom" terrorists. They have already blamed the killing of the Japanese reporter on Assad when in fact she was whacked by the other side. Another sacrificial lamb for the cause. Read more at drinkitall blogspot com

    • 2 votes
    Reply#2 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 11:49 AM EDT

    Please, tell us more about how you know so much about foreign policy and the situation in Syria. Also, nice plug for your blog. Because we all know blogs by random internet people are so reliable and trustworthy

      #2.2 - Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:05 PM EDT
      Reply

      Barbarians.

        Reply#3 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 12:55 PM EDT
        Reply

        ALL I can say , Its a crying shame that some of our Media , governments officials and senators has stooped down to this level , the level of lying and covering up for bunch of murderers and terrorists , and what so bad we arming and training the same people that attacked us on 9/11 , where are these people and senators that always asking for investigations of a corrupt politicians , where are the people that suppose to protect our troops and civilians , these people looking out for the interests of other countries and arms companies and OIL companies ,

          Reply#4 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 2:48 PM EDT

          He can't defect. He's already defective.

            Reply#5 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 4:52 PM EDT

            Not possible! NBC and CNN reported that he'd defected and as the voice of the administration it's someone elses fault, if untrue. When the totally independent NYT said so it must be proper and accurate.

              Reply#6 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 6:32 PM EDT

              There's a video of thugs hiding up on a hillside and shooting down at both security and protesters. (the video has been up for some months now)

                Reply#7 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:02 PM EDT

                The news media always makes stories. It was a wishful thinks for the news media.

                  Reply#8 - Sun Aug 26, 2012 8:59 PM EDT

                  This kind of Unacceptable and BAD Western Media Reporting has got to end.. Stories start like this.. The journlist who wrote this story should be sent back to Journal School to rewrite his-or-her journal exams again.. The Managing Editor od MSNBC should be sent looking for another place to Manage.. What's it called?? Co- oberation of news stories from more than ine source, before publishing a story?? Just my opinion, of course..

                    Reply#9 - Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:09 AM EDT
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