Os ratos começam a abandonar a nave síria

Syria's deputy oil minister says he is resigning to join the revolt against the government.

Abdo Hussameddin announced his defection in a video posted on YouTube.

He is the highest level political figure to abandon the government of President Bashar al-Assad since the uprising erupted a year ago.

Earlier, after a visit to the city of Homs, the UN humanitarian chief said some areas had been "devastated" in the offensive by Syrian government troops.

Valerie Amos said the bombed-out Baba Amr district felt like it had been closed down entirely. The government retook the district last week after fierce shelling.

Activists say troops committed massacres since they went in. Damascus blames rebels for many deaths.

'Driven by barbarism'

Deputy minister Abdo Hussameddin, 58, posted his video on YouTube late on Wednesday.

Wearing a smart jacket, collar and tie, and sitting in a high-backed armchair, he read out a four-minute ringing denunciation of the regime he said he had served in one capacity or another for the past 33 years.

BBC