Rifaat al-Assad appeal: Syrian leader's uncle was convicted for money laundering
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French court sentences Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of Syrian president, to four years in prison
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SPAIN: RIFAAT Al-ASSAD CONTESTS SYRIA LEADERSHIP
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President Assad's uncle urges him to stand down
Rifaat Ali al-Assad is the younger brother of the former President of Syria, Hafez Assad and Jamil Assad, and the uncle of the incumbent President Bashar al-Assad. He is alleged by some sources to be the commanding officer responsible for the Hama massacre of 1982. Recently declassified material back his claims that his brother Hafez al-Assad was responsible, as do a number of commentators. Despite accusations, Rifaat has always denied culpability. He currently lives in France.