Iran: No revolution in Syria

TEHRAN, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- There is no revolution under way in Syria because most people there support the government's stance against Israel, an Iranian official said.

U.N. officials have accused the Syrian government of committing war crimes against the people since an uprising began last year. The International Committee of the Red Cross characterized the conflict as civil war last month.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollohian said "the people of Syria support their government's stance about being a part of and having an influential role in the axis of resistance (against Israel)," the semiofficial Fars News Agency reports.

Tehran last weekend denied that 48 citizens captured by rebels in Syria were members of the elite Revolutionary Guards. Iran's state-funded broadcaster Press TV reports that they were carrying military discharge papers but were in Syria on a pilgrimage.

Mohammad Otri, a spokesman for former Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Hijab, said Monday the leader and members of his family defected to Jordan, al-Jazeera reports.

"I announce that I am from today a soldier in this blessed revolution," a statement attributed to the prime minister read.

Otri told al-Jazeera that the defection had been in the works for months. Hajib was appointed prime minister in June. Damascus said the prime minister was fired Monday.