The highest ranking Syrian diplomat to date has defected to the opposition. Nawaf Fares, Syrian ambassador to Iraq, announced at a press conference that he was joining the rebellion against President Assad. BBC: The move comes just a week after a Syrian general from a powerful family close to President Assad also defected. Meanwhile Western nations are urging the UN to threaten tough sanctions against Syria as the Security Council opens talks on the future of its observer mission in the country. The Security Council must pass a new resolution before the mission's mandate ends on Friday next week. Mr Fares confirmed his defection in a statement broadcast on al-Jazeera TV. With Syrian revolutionary flags behind him, he read out the statement saying: "I announce my resignation from my post as ambassador of the Syrian Arab Republic to the brotherly republic of Iraq." He also announced he was quitting Syria's ruling Baath party. Mr Fares described the situation in Syria as a...(Read Full Post)