television station BFM.

He called on outside powers to give the opposition "all the aid and support" needed to topple Assad.

Foreign military intervention, however, "could not provide a solution" to the conflict, he said. The uprising against Assad's regime began in March 2011 with mostly peaceful protests against the family dynasty that has ruled Syria for four decades. But the battle has transformed into a civil war, and activists estimate that at least 23,000 people have been killed.

Tlass' defection in July was hailed as a resounding triumph by many Syrian opposition activists. But many in the opposition are deeply suspicious of Tlass, saying he is just trying to vault to power. In the weeks after he abandoned the regime, Tlass began touring regional powers to garner support for theuprising.

'Bring together my people'

"My role is to unify, bring together my people, that is my role," he said in Monday's interview.

Tlass, who is in his 40s, is the son of former defence minister Mustafa Tlass, who was the most trusted lieutenant of the late Hafez Assad, the president's father and predecessor.

Although the Assad regime has been hit by a string of defections, the inner circle has remained remarkably ironclad over the course of the conflict. Still, the government has not been able to crush the rebellion, leading to a murderous grind.

The new UN-Arab League envoy to the country, meanwhile, said the Syrian people are desperate for peace and stability.

Lakhdar Brahimi said he will travel to Syria this week to meet with regime officials as well as civic groups