Defectors claim government behind killer explosions in Syria

Guardian:

Military defectors in northern Syria have denounced claims that al-Qaidawas behind a series of deadly bombings in Damascus, contradicting the UN secretary general's assessment that the terror group is taking a lead in the insurgency.

The defectors were speaking before Ban Ki-moon's claim on Thursday that al-Qaida was responsible for a deadly blast outside one of Syria's top intelligence services on 10 May, which reportedly killed 55 people and wounded 372.

"A few days ago there was a huge, serious, massive terrorist attack. I believe that there must be al-Qaida behind it," Ban said at the UN headquarters in New York. "This has created again very serious problems."

The defectors, interviewed by the Guardian in villages in the Jisr al-Shughour and Jabal al-Zawiya areas this week, alleged that Syrian security forces had caused many of the blasts.

Nine defectors, some of them officers who had fled recently, relayed first-hand accounts of plots they had witnessed being planned or executed that were later blamed on "armed gangs" or al-Qaida.

All have provided details of the plots they say took place and are willing to provide testimonies to international investigators. They say they are reluctant to put their names to their allegations, fearing reprisals against their families.

Another man, who was serving in the destroyed intelligence headquarters known as the Palestinian branch, and who was injured in the 10 May blast, gave an account of regime compliance to his family and friends. The man, a guard at the headquarters' prison, had returned to his village two days earlier after receiving treatment.

"He told us that three days before the bomb the Alawite officers started disappearing and so too did all of the important prisoners," the man's brother said. "The cameras were also taken down and the important files were removed. The only people left in the building when the explosion happened were Sunni officers and guards or some prisoners."

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When Dolly Parton was asked if she had her breast enhanced, she replied, "I am just the kind of person who would do something like that."  It was an evasive answer, but the meaning was hard to miss.  The Assad regime is made up of just the kind of people who would blow up others and blame it on their enemies.   I find the stories credible.