Will he be sacrificed? Shawkat
Photo: AFP
Syrian President Bashar Assad
Photo: Reuters
Report: Assad relative's office besieged
Syrian president's brother-in-law, Asef Shawkat, mentioned in U.N. investigator's report as being involved in murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister
According to initial reports, army forces besieged Wednesday evening the offices of Syrian President Bashar Assad's brother-in-law, Asef Shawkat, in Damascus.
Shawkat serves as the Syrian army intelligence chief and is considered to be Assad's closest aide.
The story was reported by the ANN network, owned by Rifaat Assad, the Syrian president's uncle and rival, who is in exile.
According to the report, the Syrian forces demanded that Shawkat to give himself in, but he refused. In the meantime, there has been no confirmation or reference to the report by any other source.
On Monday, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Monday demanding Syria’s full cooperation with a U.N. Investigation into the assassination of Lebanon’s former prime minister and warning of possible “Further action” If it doesn’t.
The resolution was based on the international investigation report of German U.N. investigator Detlev Mehlis.
Following the resolution, it was clear that the provisions could pose a problem for Assad, as well as for his brother, Maher Assad, and his brother-in-law, Asef Shawkat, who are suspected in being involved in the assassination.
