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Syrian president's cousin arrested over alleged road-rage killing | |
(34 minutes later) | |
Syrian authorities have arrested Suleiman al-Assad, a cousin of the president, on suspicion of killing a military officer in a road rage incident, according to the official news agency Sana. | Syrian authorities have arrested Suleiman al-Assad, a cousin of the president, on suspicion of killing a military officer in a road rage incident, according to the official news agency Sana. |
“Suleiman Hilal al-Assad has been arrested and transferred to the appropriate authorities,” Sana reported, without adding details. | “Suleiman Hilal al-Assad has been arrested and transferred to the appropriate authorities,” Sana reported, without adding details. |
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, citing local sources, said he was detained on the road between Latakia and Qardaha, President Bashar al-Assad’s ancestral village. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, citing local sources, said he was detained on the road between Latakia and Qardaha, President Bashar al-Assad’s ancestral village. |
Suleiman al-Assad, a first cousin once removed of the president, is accused of shooting dead Colonel Hassan al-Sheikh of the air force in an apparent road rage incident on Thursday evening. | |
The incident took place in the coastal province of Latakia that is a regime stronghold and heartland of the Alawite minority to which Assad belongs. | The incident took place in the coastal province of Latakia that is a regime stronghold and heartland of the Alawite minority to which Assad belongs. |
Related: The fear-filled minority sect that keeps Syria's struggling dictatorship alive | Related: The fear-filled minority sect that keeps Syria's struggling dictatorship alive |
Both Sheikh and his alleged killer are Alawites, and the incident caused tensions in Latakia’s provincial capital, where more than 1,000 people protested against the murder on Saturday, demanding justice. | Both Sheikh and his alleged killer are Alawites, and the incident caused tensions in Latakia’s provincial capital, where more than 1,000 people protested against the murder on Saturday, demanding justice. |
On Monday, Syrian daily Al-Watan quoted Sheikh’s relatives as saying the president had pledged the crime would not go unpunished. | On Monday, Syrian daily Al-Watan quoted Sheikh’s relatives as saying the president had pledged the crime would not go unpunished. |
Sheikh’s wife, Mayssa Ghanem, told the paper, which is close to the government, that she had “received a promise from President Assad to punish the perpetrator, whoever he is”. | Sheikh’s wife, Mayssa Ghanem, told the paper, which is close to the government, that she had “received a promise from President Assad to punish the perpetrator, whoever he is”. |
The pledge was passed to her by “official delegations that came to Latakia to express their sympathies,” she said. | The pledge was passed to her by “official delegations that came to Latakia to express their sympathies,” she said. |
“I have confidence in the word of the president, who is personally taking charge. We will get our rights.” | “I have confidence in the word of the president, who is personally taking charge. We will get our rights.” |
Suleiman al-Assad reportedly killed Sheikh after the colonel overtook him at a crossroads in Latakia. | Suleiman al-Assad reportedly killed Sheikh after the colonel overtook him at a crossroads in Latakia. |
The alleged killer’s father, Hilal al-Assad, a first cousin of the president, headed the defence forces in the Mediterranean city before his death in March 2014 clashes with rebels in nearby Kasab. | The alleged killer’s father, Hilal al-Assad, a first cousin of the president, headed the defence forces in the Mediterranean city before his death in March 2014 clashes with rebels in nearby Kasab. |
Sheikh’s brother Nasser, who was with the colonel at the time of his death, told Al-Watan he witnessed the victim being “killed in cold blood because he did not give way in a traffic jam”. | Sheikh’s brother Nasser, who was with the colonel at the time of his death, told Al-Watan he witnessed the victim being “killed in cold blood because he did not give way in a traffic jam”. |
He hoped “the blood of my brother will save us from these criminal actions that kill people on the streets,” in an apparent reference to the growing pro-regime militias in war-strewn Syria that are heavily-armed and often act with impunity. | He hoped “the blood of my brother will save us from these criminal actions that kill people on the streets,” in an apparent reference to the growing pro-regime militias in war-strewn Syria that are heavily-armed and often act with impunity. |
Latakia governor Ibrahim Khodr al-Salem, who paid condolences to the family on behalf of the presidency, assured them that “your rights will not be set aside so long as President Assad is here,” Al-Watan reported. | Latakia governor Ibrahim Khodr al-Salem, who paid condolences to the family on behalf of the presidency, assured them that “your rights will not be set aside so long as President Assad is here,” Al-Watan reported. |
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