Hanging on until it's too late

From Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/07/us-syria-crisis-idUSBRE8610SH20120807?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

One of the unintended consequences of President Assad's decision not to make any substantive reforms s that in due course he may not only lose his position but perhaps his life as well. This will follow the precedent of Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, and many other dictators faced with intractable opposition.

Riyad Hijab is sworn in as new Prime Minister by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (R) in Damascus in this handout photo distributed by Syrian News Agency (SANA) June 26, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/SANA/Handout

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

AMMAN | Tue Aug 7, 2012 3:51am EDT

Syrian forces pressed on with their offensive against rebels in the largest city Aleppo after the prime minister fled the country, denouncing the "terrorist regime" of Bashar al-Assad.

The defection of Riyad Hijab - who like most of the opposition hails from the Sunni Muslim majority - was a further sign of the isolation of Assad's government around an inner core of powerful members of his minority Alawite sect.

Opposition figures, buoyant despite setbacks in recent weeks of fighting around Damascus and Aleppo, spoke of an extensive and long-planned operation to spirit Hijab and his large extended family across the border to Jordan.