A former colonel in the Syrian Air Force intelligence department has appeared before a London court charged with crimes against humanity.
Salem Michel Al-Salem, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court via video link and has been named publicly for the first time after a request from his team to prevent this was rejected.
The 58-year-old is charged with three counts of murder as a crime against humanity, one count of conduct ancillary to murder as a crime against humanity and three counts of torture.
The charges all relate to alleged events in Damascus in 2011 and 2012, including deaths at a demonstration on 22 April 2011 when protesters calling for prisoners to be freed were allegedly shot dead.
Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded Al-Salem on bail until his next court appearance at the Old Bailey on Friday. No indication was given as to how al-Salem will plead to the charges.
