Syria's ambassador to Iraq, Nawaf al-Fares, has defected from the Syrian government, CNN reported, citing members of the the Syrian National Council opposition group

Al-Fares would be the highest-ranking diplomat to defect since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

According to Dr. Hassan Chalabi, a Syrian National Council member, al-Fares is "currently making his way to a safe area."

Chalabi said he was working closely with his contacts in Iraq to coordinate with al-Fares to secure his safety. Another SNC member, Emad-eddin al-Rashid, has told CNN that al-Fares is still in Iraq.

The Iraqi government has not reportedly commented on the news. It follows the apparent defection last week of a senior military figure, Brig. Gen. Manaf Tlas, in a protest of the killing of Sunnis.