Iraqi FM: Syrian ambassador who defected is in Qatar

The Syrian ambassador to Iraq who defected, Nawaf Fares, is currently in Qatar, Iraq's foreign minister told reporters on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told reporters in Paris the defection by al-Fares on Wednesday came as a surprise, as he was loyal to the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Fares was the first senior diplomat to quit the embattled government. (Reuters)