Syrian deputy oil minister, says he is resigning to join the revolt against the government.

The 58 year old minister is the highest level political figure to abandon the government of President Bashar al-Assad since the uprising erupted a year ago.

Abdo Hussameddin, who is one of two deputy oil ministers, announced his defection in a video posted on YouTube on Wednesday.

Wearing a smart jacket, collar and tie, and sitting in a high-backed armchair, he read out a four-minute denunciation of the regime he said he had served in one capacity or another for the past 33 years.

Mr Hussameddin, who had served as deputy oil minister since August 2009, said “I tell the regime, which claims to own the country, you have nothing but the footprint of the tank driven by your barbarism to kill innocent people.”

He said he was stepping aside although he knew that his house would be burnt and his family persecuted by the regime.

The Syrian government has not publicly commented on Mr Hussameddin’s announcement.