Beirut: A cousin of the Syrian President has been banned from travelling abroad as the government investigates into the violence gripping the country.
The move appears to be an attempt by Bashar Assad to show that he is serious about investigating the bloodshed.
State-run SANA news agency says the ban was imposed on Brig Gen Atef Najib, who ran the security department in the southern province of Daraa. The uprising erupted there in mid-March after the arrest of 15 teenagers who scrawled anti-government graffiti.
Judge Mohammed Deeb al-Muqatran of the Special Judicial Committee says the travel ban is precautionary in order for Najib to be available for questioning.
Al-Muqatran was quoted as saying on Monday that "no one has immunity, whoever he is."
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, June 13, 2011, 16:02