Where Is Syria's Vice-President?

Syrian Vice President Farouq al-Sharaa always seemed like a good candidate for defection. The longtime Syrian diplomat is a Sunni from the southern province of Deraa, where the uprising first broke out. He is not reported to be a central figure in the regime's brutal and indiscriminate crackdown - indeed, President Bashar al-Assad exploited his reputation for reconciliation by tapping him to lead the (ultimately unfruitful) "national dialogue" with the opposition last year.

Last week, according to Syrian activists, Sharaa finally jumped ship.