Relative of Assad held over killing

Syrian authorities have arrested a relative of President Bashar Assad on suspicion of shooting a senior army officer in a traffic dispute, setting off rare protests in a coastal stronghold of the Assad family.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Aug 2015, 18:04 BST

Latakia’s governor Khodr al-Salem says in comments published by state-run news agency Sana that Suleiman Assad was arrested at a farm in the province’s countryside.

He said Assad, the son of the president’s first cousin, Hilal, will be subject to legal measures that apply to any similar case.

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Suleiman Assad had been on the run since he reportedly killed the army officer in a road rage incident two days ago.

The killing sparked mass protests in Latakia, where more than 1,000 people took to the streets calling for his execution.