Syrian Authorities Issue Arrest Warrant for Bashar al-Assad

Syrian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for ousted President Bashar al-Assad, nine months after his overthrow.

Al-Assad, who ruled Syria for over two decades, fled to Russia in December after a rebel advance on Damascus.

The warrant was issued in absentia on charges of premeditated murder and torture leading to death, according to Syrian news agency SANA, citing statements by investigator Tawfiq al-Ali.

The charges relate to the suppression of protests in the city of Daraa in 2011.

In 2011, a peaceful uprising against Assad began, which was violently suppressed, leading to a civil war with hundreds of thousands of victims.

Investigator al-Ali stated that the warrant could be circulated via Interpol.

Syrian media reported that the Ministry of Justice issued the warrant on Thursday with charges also including an attack aimed at inciting civil war.

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Source: APE-MPE