Assad’s brother-in-law Assef Shawkat buried, report

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According to anti-Syrian regime activists,  President Bashar al-Assad’s brother-in-law  Assef Shawkat who was  Syria’s deputy defense minister  was   buried on Wednesday in his hometown, which they identified as Madhale, near the Mediterranean coastal city of Tartous.

Several activists quoted by Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television said black flags were flying in Madhale in mourning.

On their Syrian Revolution Facebook page, online anti-regime activists wrote that: “Assef Shawkat is being buried right now in his home town Madhale … God curse him. He was poisoned.”

They said Shawkat’s body was transported to a hospital near his hometown that was emptied of patients on Tuesday evening.

Speculation over Shawkat’s fate first emerged on May 20 when Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya television broadcast an amateur video showing a man claiming responsibility on behalf of a rebel group for killing six regime stalwarts.

They included Shawkat, Interior Minister Mohammed al-Shaar, Defence Minister Daoud Rajha, national security chief Hisham Bakhtiar and Hassan Turkmeni, assistant to the vice president.

Turkmeni appeared on state television this week to dismiss the reports, while Shaar denied them in a telephone interview, accusing Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya of “lies and slander.”

But Shawkat has not made any public appearance or personally denied the reports, though he rarely makes public statements.

Abdul Halim Khaddam , the former vice president of Syria confirmed that Assef Shawkat was been killed on 19 May, 2012

AFP

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10 responses to “Assad’s brother-in-law Assef Shawkat buried, report”

  1. breakthemould Avatar
    breakthemould

    Is he dead or is he not dead. God he is an important member of the regime. You would think if they loved him they would make an announcement. Just mafia like behavior.  If he is dead, they will have to say so at some point. Why not now in respect to his wife and kids. Living in the shadows as they have always done. Sad for them.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      No dictator likes to announce set-backs.

      1. breakthemould Avatar
        breakthemould

        His wife loved him. Up and coming soldier swallowed in the Assad family, so they say. I don’t think the Lebanese liked him very much.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          After 15 years of occupation, and everything since, I don’t think you’ll find a Lebanese who likes Syrians, period.

  2. breakthemould Avatar
    breakthemould

    Is he dead or is he not dead. God he is an important member of the regime. You would think if they loved him they would make an announcement. Just mafia like behavior.  If he is dead, they will have to say so at some point. Why not now in respect to his wife and kids. Living in the shadows as they have always done. Sad for them.

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar
      5thDrawer

      No dictator likes to announce set-backs.

      1. breakthemould Avatar
        breakthemould

        His wife loved him. Up and coming soldier swallowed in the Assad family, so they say. I don’t think the Lebanese liked him very much.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          After 15 years of occupation, and everything since, I don’t think you’ll find a Lebanese who likes Syrians, period.

  3. breakthemould Avatar
    breakthemould

    Buried like burying haramieh.

  4. breakthemould Avatar
    breakthemould

    Buried like burying haramieh.

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