Are the rats leaving a sinking ship?

According to this NYTimes story there might be an exodus of high-ranking Syrian officials in progress.

During a United Nations investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri that threatens the power of President Bashar al-Assad, a first cousin who is one of the most powerful businessmen in Syria has left the country.

While it remains unclear why the president's cousin, Rami Makhluf, left - his allies say he is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, working on the expansion of his business empire - many people with close connections to the ruling Baath Party say his departure underscores the investigation's threat to the Assad family's grip on power.

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Should the Security Council demand that the two be turned over for trial, President Assad would most probably have to resist or face turmoil in a system that is not governed by strong institutions, but instead by individuals, several experts said.

In this environment, Mr. Makhluf's departure has been seen as a sign that those at the core of the country's power structure recognize their vulnerability, and fear that a showdown with the Security Council could spell disaster for them.

"I think that this is the most important challenge facing Syria in its recent history," said Fayez Sara, a Syrian political analyst and writer. "And if the Syrian government or authorities do not handle the issue well, it can in fact lead to a crisis."

The Makhluf family is at the center of the power structure. It controls a business empire including a bank, the duty-free zones at the border and most of Syria's cellphone service. President Assad's mother is a Makhluf and her brother, Muhammad, is Rami Makhluf's father.