Syrian rebel leader waiting in Turkey

BBC News ^ | John Simpson

[SunkenCiv]

Tracking down and interviewing Colonel Riyad al-Asad close to Turkey's border with Syria is not an easy business.

The colonel's name sounds close to but not quite the same as that of the President he wants to overthrow, Bashar al-Assad.

He is based in a refugee camp at Apaydin, 9 miles (14km) from the town of Antakya and very close to the Syrian border. But he is not allowed to leave the camp, and cannot receive visitors.

To a considerable extent, this is for his own protection. The Turks seem to regard Colonel Asad as a potentially important figure for the future, and are determined that nothing untoward should happen to him.

Nor is this just a theoretical worry. Two months ago another Syrian colonel who had defected left a neighbouring camp where he was living and went shopping in a nearby town. He vanished there.

The strong assumption is that he was kidnapped by Syrian agents and smuggled back across the border. Most of the Syrian refugees I spoke to about it thought he would already be dead.

As a result, getting to see Colonel Asad is remarkably difficult. No Turkish official wanted to help us, or indeed even speak about him on the record.

[SunkenCiv]

Former officer Col Riyad al-Asad now leads the rebel Free Syrian Army

[SunkenCiv]

Well, it should be an interesting couple of weeks.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Its going to be an interesting Month—Look for dramatic change and perhaps war. We get involved in Syria, Iran gets involved with US troops in Iraq. They start to attack shipping in the Gulf——War. This time I think our enemies will attack the USA herself. They have had years to plan counter strikes in the homeland. Ask yourself—how many on the OW Camps would help Iranians in their attack on the USA?

[org.whodat]

Another crack pot dictator in waiting.

[SunkenCiv]

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