Syria arrests relative of Assad over road rage killing that set off protests
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
Latakia's Gov. Khodr al-Salem says in comments published late Monday 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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.