Nawaf al-Fares, Syria’s Ambassador to Iraq, on Wednesday announced his defection from the regime of President Bashar al-Assad as well as the Arab Baath Socialist Party in Syria, protesting against the regime's crackdowns against protesters and the opposition

Following the statement he exclusively gave Al Jazeera last night, Fares also gave us an interview, aired today. We have a transcript online, but here's a taste:

I call all honourable and free Syrians, particularly members of the military to join the revolution and to defend the country and the citizens.

Dear military men… your mission is to defend the nation against any external threat… have your people become your enemy? Is that what you have learned at your military academies? Is it your slogan: Homeland, Honour and Loyalty? Where is honour if you are killing your people?