INFIGHTING REPORTED WITH SYRIAN SECURITY

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- Syrian opposition sources have reported fighting within the security services under the regime of President Bashar Assad.

The Reform Party of Syria said the infighting was prompted by the appointment of Brig. Gen. Ghazi Kanaan as Syrian interior minister in mid-2004. The group, supported by the U.S. Defense Department as a democratic alternative to the Assad regime, said Kanaan was provided a mandate to unify the rival intelligence services.

Quoting "reliable sources in the Middle East," RPS said that since Kanaan entered the Interior Ministry, Syria's security and intelligence services, including military intelligence services, "have been at each other throats for control."

"The in-fighting is almost at a point of spilling of blood," RPS said.

RPS said Assad's brother-in-law, Assaf Chawkat, regarded as the liasion to the security agencies, had opposed their consolidation. The group said Defense Minister Hassan Turkmani also opposed the move out of concern that he would lose his authority.