Syrian authorities arrest Assad's relative over murder charges

Syrian authorities Monday arrested a relative of President Bashar al-Assad on charges of murdering an army officer, the state-run TV said.

Authorities arrested Slaiman al-Assad, accused him of gunning down Colonel Hassan al-Sheikh over a road rage incident in the coastal city of Latakia.

Slaiman al-Assad reportedly shot down Colonel al-Sheikh in front of his brother and two children in Latakia Thursday.

Al-Sheikh's brother, who was riding with him during the incident, informed Sham FM radio during an interview that around 7:15 p.m. local time Thursday, he and his brother were driving on the beach road, arriving at the Afamia area, when a large Toyota flashed its lights behind them, honking its horn at the colonel's car signaling it should move out of the way.

The colonel, unable to turn because there was a checkpoint to his right and cars to his left said, "the driver behind us insisted on honking his horn at us."

The car passed by us, slamming its breaks before us, prompting the colonel to step out of his car and head towards the Toyota driver, one hundred meters ahead, before reaching the Azhari roundabout.

"He told him I am Colonel Hassan al-Sheikh. However, the Toyota driver badmouthed him, along with the Syrian army, and drew his Kalashnikov, firing towards us," the colonel's brother told the radio.

"The fatal shot instantly killed my brother," he said, adding that the colonel's twins were riding with them, witnessing the whole scene.

The colonel's brother said he filed an official complaint, accusing Slaiman al-Assad of killing his brother. Reports said eye witnesses on the street also recognized the perpetrator as Slaiman al-Assad.

Slaiman is the son of Hilal al-Assad, former head of the paramilitary National Defense Forces (NDF), killed earlier this year when a rocket slammed into his post in the Latakia countryside.

Slaiman is a young man known for his recklessness and bad reputation among the youth of Latakia University, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Resentment and tension overwhelmed Latakia over the killing of the officer by one of Assad's family members as Latakia is the hometown of President Assad and the heartland of this Alawite minority, which lost several of its young men in battles against the insurgency.

Protesters took to the streets over the weekend in Latakia urging authorities to bring Slaiman to justice.

The president reportedly promised the slain officer's family that he will bring the perpetrator to justice.

Observers believe the incident could have incited a rift among the Alawite minority in Latakia, however Slaiman's incarceration should alleviate tensions. Endit