US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, right, speaks with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius during a meeting , in Paris, Friday July 6, 2012. Syrian opposition leaders are pressing diplomats at an international conference for a no-fly zone over Syria, but the U.S. and its European and Arab partners are expected to focus on economic sanctions instead. (AP Photo/Brendan Smialowski, Pool)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, right, speaks with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius during a meeting , in Paris, Friday July 6, 2012. Syrian opposition leaders are pressing diplomats at an international conference for a no-fly zone over Syria, but the U.S. and its European and Arab partners are expected to focus on economic sanctions instead. (AP Photo/Brendan Smialowski, Pool)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, left, walks with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius before their meeting in Paris, Friday July 6, 2012. Syrian opposition leaders are pressing diplomats at an international conference for a no-fly zone over Syria, but the U.S. and its European and Arab partners are expected to focus on economic sanctions instead. (AP Photo/Brendan Smialowski, Pool)
PARIS (AP) ? The defection of a member of the Syrian president's inner circle has dealt a blow to Bashar Assad just as the United States and its European partners are threatening new sanctions and the opposition is urging military intervention.
A Western official said Friday that Syrian Brig. Gen. Manaf Tlass had abandoned Assad's regime. Tlass was a member of the elite Republican Guards and a son of a former defense minister. The official wasn't authorized to divulge the information and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Tlaas' whereabouts are unclear. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and other opposition websites claimed he had fled to Turkey.
His departure comes as about 100 delegations are meeting Friday in Paris at a so-called Friends of Syria conference, aimed at bolstering the Syrian resistance and pressing Syria's allies to discuss transition strategies for the embattled country after 16 months of brutal crackdowns and civil war.
The United States and its European partners are threatening new sanctions on Assad's regime if he doesn't act fast on a new peace plan, but the fractured and frustrated Syrian opposition is seeking quick military actions instead.
Hassan Hashimi, general secretary of the opposition Syrian National Council, said the international community is still moving too slowly.
Going into Friday's meeting, he said he hopes to see a "tough stand" by diplomats, and a no-fly zone to prevent military forces "flying over defected soldiers and civilians and bombarding them."
But military intervention is not on the immediate horizon. U.S. officials say they are focusing on economic pressure, and the Obama administration says it won't intervene militarily or provide weapons to the Syrian rebels for what it considers to be an already too-militarized conflict.
And Russia, a key Syrian ally, isn't taking part in Friday's conference.
The French hosts, meanwhile, have staked out a firm stance against Assad.
What's happening in Syria "is a threat for international peace and security," French President Francois Hollande said.
"Bashar Assad must leave. A transitional government should be formed. It's in everyone's interest," he said. He urged "real and effective" sanctions and urged all participants to pledge support for democratic opposition and organize effective humanitarian aid.
A U.N. resolution could be introduced next week, according to American officials who previewed Friday's gathering in Paris on condition of anonymity. But with neither Moscow nor Beijing in attendance, much will remain dependent on persuading the two reluctant powers to pressure Assad into action.
The objections of Russia and China also effectively watered down Annan's blueprint for transition at a conference in Geneva last weekend. It grants Assad an effective veto over any interim government candidate he opposes. The opposition would gain the same power.
Activists say more than 14,000 people have been killed since the revolt began.
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