Demonstrators waving independence flags of Syria during a demonstration in Paris yesterday, on the occasion of the second-year anniversary of Syria’s conflict. Syria’s devastating conflict entered its third year on March 15. Two years on, Syria is mired in a civil war that has cost at least 70,000 lives and forced a million people to flee abroad, with millions more missing or displaced, sparking an economic and humanitarian disaster. A brigadier general and about 20 soldiers defected from the Syrian army in two separate incidents yesterday, activists said, in another sign that the strength of President Bashar al-Assad’s armed forces is diminishing. Brigadier General Mohamed Khalouf appeared dressed in a camouflage military uniform in a video on Al Arabiya news channel and said he had planned his escape with the opposition movement for some time. “It is not possible for anyone to accept any of the ideas of this regime unless they have achieved special interests,” he said in the video. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has warned Syria’s regime is expanding its use of cluster munitions in its conflict with rebel forces, causing “mounting civilian casualties