Syrians have taken to the streets in Latakia following the alleged murder of a prominent Syrian officer by a relative of President Bashar al-Asssad, Reuters reports.
More than 1,000 people gathered in Latakia on Saturday night, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Protestors held photos of the slain officer, identified as Colonel Hassan al-Shaikh.
A cousin of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has shot and killed Colonel al-Shaikh in what is being described as a road rage incident earlier this week.
According to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, Suleiman al-Assad, a first cousin once removed killed Colonel Hassan al-Shiekh “because he overtook him at a crossroads” Thursday evening.
Suleiman al-Assad “followed him, swerved the car around, got out and shot him dead,” Observatory head Abdel Rahman told AFP.
Rahman added Suleiman al-Assad had not been arrested at the time of reporting.
