Syria issues arrest warrant for Bashar al-Assad

(Patria) - Syrian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the country's long-time president Bashar al-Assad, more than nine months after his overthrow, the Syrian judiciary announced today.

Assad, who ruled Syria for over two decades, fled to Russia in December last year after rebel alliance forces advanced towards the capital, Damascus.

An arrest warrant in absentia has been issued for Assad on charges of premeditated murder and torture leading to death, the Syrian state news agency SANA quoted Damascus investigating judge Tawfiq al-Ali as saying.

The charges are related to the crackdown by Assad's forces in 2011 in the southern city of Daraa.

In 2011, a pro-democracy peaceful uprising erupted against Assad's rule, with participants demanding political changes.

However, his government responded with brutal repression. The situation soon escalated into a full-blown conflict, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties and massive destruction.

Hundreds of thousands more ended up in prison, subjected to torture or disappeared, according to human rights advocates.

- The court decision opens the door for distributing notices through Interpol (International Police) and the international prosecution of the case - said Judge Ali.

He added that this step is a response to a lawsuit filed by the families of the victims. Daraa is considered the cradle of the uprising against Assad.

Syrian media reported that the Ministry of Justice issued an arrest warrant on Thursday based on charges that included an attack aimed at inciting civil war.

Since Assad's fall, the new Syrian leadership has been trying to demonstrate moderation and respect for human rights while seeking international economic support for the reconstruction of the devastated country.