Former Syrian Leader Charged With Conspiracy

A Syrian military court has charged the former vice-president Abdul Halim Khaddam, the most senior defector from the regime in years, with a string of crimes, including inciting a foreign attack on the country and plotting to seize power.

Mr Khaddam, who lives in France, retired last summer after three decades at the highest levels of the Syrian regime. He moved abroad with his family and has since met opposition figures and called for the government's overthrow.

The court issued seven charges, including inciting a foreign country to "launch a direct aggression against Syria", which carries a possible sentence of life imprisonment with hard labour. Others include conspiring to seize political and civil power; establishing illegal links with the enemy (apparently a reference to interviews given to the Israeli media); performing acts and speeches unauthorised by the government; and "attempting to discredit the Syrian government by disseminating false information that would weaken national feelings".

It is not the first case brought against him. A month ago, a state-run newspaper said a civil court had issued a summons against Mr Khaddam and 23 members of his family, apparently to answer charges of corruption. They have been ordered to report to the court later this month.

The litigation signals the regime's anger at Mr Khaddam's meetings with opposition figures. In particular, he recently met the Islamic leader Ali Bayanouni, the head of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood who lives in exile in north London. The two, along with other dissidents, announced a joint programme last month and proposed establishing an interim government.