Has Syria's Vice President Defected?

Syria Denies Vice President Has Defected, But Whereabouts Unknown -- L.A. Times

BEIRUT -– Syria denied Saturday that Vice President Farouk Shara had defected as opposition reports continued to provide conflicting accounts of whether he had fled to neighboring Jordan or was still in the country.

"Shara has never at any moment thought of leaving the homeland to whatever direction," state media reported, citing a statement released by the vice president's office.

The Syrian Arab News Agency reported that Shara has been working with all sides to end the bloodshed in the 17-month conflict in Syria. In the release, Shara also welcomed Friday’s appointment of Lakhdar Brahimi as the new United Nations envoy to Syria.

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Update: Where is Syria's Deputy President? -- Arutz Sheva

My Comment: The Assad government's concerns on the Vice President are valid, especially since the Vice President's family has been defecting recently.