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Iraq defections

beginning of Saddam's

end, says Syria

DAMASCUS: Syria said on Saturday the defection of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's powerful sons-in-law to Jordan was a prelude to the total collapse of the Iraqi leader's government.

In the first public Arab reaction outside Jordan to the defections, a senior Syrian information official said he expected Saddam to become more dangerous as he struggled to hold onto power.

"What happened in Iraq is a fire in the regime's bedroom. It is a prelude to total collapse," said Ameed Khouli, head of the official Syrian daily al-Thawra.

Jordan has given Lieutenant-General Hussein Kamel Hassan, the man who ran Iraq's war machine, and his brother Saddam political asylum together with their wives -- Saddam Hussein's daughters -- and about 30 aides.

The defections are seen as a severe blow to the Iraqi leader, who for 15 years has been a bitter rival of his Syrian neighbours.

Despite the fact that both governments were founded on the same Arab Baathist ideology, Baghdad and Damascus broke ties in the 1970s. Their long common border has since been closed and Syria was the only Arab country to side openly with Iran in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

Syria hosts several prominent Iraqi opposition figures, including ex-intelligence chief Major-General Wafik al-Samerai.

Khouli said Saddam's relatives defected either because they feared the Iraqi leader might kill them, or because they feared a fall of the regime, which could also lead to their deaths.

"What happened in Baghdad is a tragic prelude for what is going to happen. Saddam will become more bloody. The man who was wounded by his two daughters and sons-in-law will become more dangerous. He will shed blood in revenge and in fear," Khouli said.-Reuter