The most senior Syrian diplomat to the UK has resigned in protest against his government’s “violent and oppressive acts”.
Khaled al-Ayoubi was the Charge d’Affaires and the highest ranking Syrian official in the UK after Bashar al-Assad withdrew the Syrian ambassador in March this year.
He has not defected to the opposition and is said to be in a safe location in the UK, according to the Foreign Office.
A Foreign Office spokesman said:
"Mr al-Ayoubi has told us that he is no longer willing to represent a regime that has committed such violent and oppressive acts against its own people, and is therefore unable to continue in his position.
"His departure is another blow to the Assad regime. It illustrates the revulsion and despair the regime's actions are provoking amongst Syrians from all walks of life, inside the country and abroad.
"We urge others around Bashar al-Assad to follow Mr al-Ayoubi's example, to disassociate themselves from the crimes being committed against the Syrian people and to support a peaceful and free future for Syria."
Prime Minister David Cameron said Mr al-Ayoubi was "basically defecting from the Syrian regime."
"We want this regime to crumble and fold as fast as possible. Look what it's doing to its own people in Aleppo. Absolutely appalling behaviour. So this is another step on the way to Syria having a proper transition."
