DAMASCUS - Syrian Vice-President Farouq al-Sharaa was seen Sunday leaving his car and entering his office in the capital Damascus, Xinhua reporter said, while the appearance itself has refuted the numerous rumors that have made the media rounds lately about his defection.

Al-Sharaa was seen entering his office to receive the visiting Iran's head of national security commission, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, who set foot in Damascus on Saturday for talks with Syrian officials.

Some foreign media have been buoyed by high-level defections from the Syrian leadership, and the defection reports of al-Sharaa have grabbed the headlines of some Arab TVs harboring anti-Assad sentiments.

Syria's state TV has repeatedly denied the defection reports, however, the vice-president did not appear in person to refute the claims for himself, which has triggered the media outlets to further exaggerate, baselessly providing narrations about al- Sharaa's alleged escape.

The vice-president's appearance on Sunday has refuted the claims once and for all.

Meanwhile, earlier on Sunday, the pro-government Addounai TV refuted new reports about the killing of the head of Syria's air force Jamil Hasan.