Associated Press

BEIRUT: A member of Syria's parliament says he has left the country to join the opposition against President Bashar Assad's regime.
Imad Ghalioun, who represents the central city of Homs, told Al-Arabiya TV the restive city is "disaster stricken" and has been subjected to sweeping human rights violations.

Homs has been one of the most volatile regions in Syria since the uprising against Assad began in March.
The U.N. says about 400 people have been killed in the last three weeks, on top of an earlier estimate of more than 5,000 killed since March.

Speaking from Egypt late Sunday, Ghalioun said he was able to leave Syria before a travel ban was imposed on officials.
He said there are many legislators who support the uprising but have not said so publicly.