French Arrest Warrant for Bashar al-Assad Approved by Court

The Paris Court of Appeal today approved the arrest warrant issued by investigating judges against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is accused of "complicity in committing crimes against humanity in the deadly chemical attacks that occurred in August 2013," according to "AFP" citing victims' lawyers and non-governmental organizations. The civil party lawyers announced to the press at the end of the deliberations held in a closed session, "It has been approved." The investigative chamber thus rejected the request by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office to annul the arrest warrant due to the personal immunity of heads of state while in office.