Syria’s Prime Minister has fled with his family to Jordan and joined rebel forces just two months after taking office.  The flight of Riad Hijab on Monday marks the most senior defection yet in the 17 month old uprising against the regime of Bashar Al-Assad.

Hijab says Assad told him two months ago that he had to take the job or die.

 The U-S says the defection of the Syrian prime minister is more evidence that the Assad regime “is crumbling.” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney says the Syrian opposition is continuing to gain ground.

Also in reaction, U-S National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor says the defections are reaching the highest levels of the Syrian government and demonstrate that the Syrian people believe Assad’s days are numbered.