7 Syrian generals defect to Turkey

Seven Syrian army generals defected to Turkey on November 6, CNN cites Turkish media as saying.

The generals were allowed to enter Turkey through southern Hatay province under tight security measures, the Anadolu Agency said.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has lost a stream of high-level government and military officials in recent months as his forces continue battling rebels seeking an end to four decades of al-Assad family rule.

Manaf Tlass, a brigadier-general and a former close friend of the president, left Syria's Republican Guard in July. Prime Minister Riyad Hijab has also defected.

Adapted from Vestnik Kavkaza