Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to punish a cousin who is accused of killing a military officer, the family of the victim told the Syrian daily Al-Watan on Monday.
AFP reports that Suleiman al-Assad, a first cousin once removed of the president, is accused of shooting dead Colonel Hassan al-Sheikh in an apparent road rage incident on Thursday evening.
Sheikh's wife Mayssa Ghanem told Al-Watan, which is close to the government, that she had "received a promise from President Assad to punish
the perpetrator, whoever he is."
The pledge was passed to her by "official delegations that came to Latakia to express their sympathies," she said.
"I have confidence in the word of the president, who is personally taking charge. We will get our rights."