Live Update
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Assad confidant dies of illness – state media
Mohammed Nasif Khayrbik, a senior Syrian government security official close to President Bashar Assad, died on Sunday morning after a long illness, state media says.
Khayrbik was a key confidant of the Assad family and the target of EU and US sanctions for his alleged role in putting down anti-government demonstrations and interfering in neighboring Lebanon.
“The presidency announces the death this morning of retired general Mohammed Nasif Khayrbik, deputy vice president of the republic, after a long illness,” Syrian state television says.
Khayrbik’s ties to Syria’s ruling family go back to the days of Hafez Assad, Bashar’s father and predecessor as president.
— AFP