TEHRAN (FNA)- Media sources in Syria on Saturday
rejected a report in social networks about assassination of Syrian President's
brother, Maher Assad, who is also a key military figure.
44-year-old Maher al-Assad is the commander of the Republican Guard and the
army's elite Fourth Armored Division, which together with Syria's secret police
form the core of the country's security forces.
He is part of Bashar's inner circle and is thought by some to be the second most powerful man in Syria after President Bashar al-Assad.
Speaking to FNA on Saturday, Director of Al Alam TV network in Damascus Hossein Mortaza pointed to the rumors about assassination of Maher Asssad by his driver, and stated, "We have information substantiating that these rumors are void of truth and are sheer lies."
Mortaza said that such lies are not new and are more aimed at boosting the morale in opposition camp, specially after resignation of key opposition figures from the so-called Syrian National Council.
He noted that such rumors in the cyber space are in line with efforts to divert the public opinion from the infightings among the Syrian opposition.
A key activist group threatened Thursday to withdraw from Syria's main opposition umbrella grouping, saying the council has drifted away from the spirit of the Syrian revolution.
A pullout by the Local Coordination Committees from the so-called Syrian National Council would be a blow for the group, which is already facing political and organizational challenges in its quest to oust President Bashar Assad.
Several prominent dissidents, including Haitham al-Maleh and Kamal al-Labawani, have already quit the SNC, calling it an "autocratic" organization.
Meantime, the leader of the SNC Burhan Ghalioun said he will resign because of infighting and disagreements among members.
He is part of Bashar's inner circle and is thought by some to be the second most powerful man in Syria after President Bashar al-Assad.
Speaking to FNA on Saturday, Director of Al Alam TV network in Damascus Hossein Mortaza pointed to the rumors about assassination of Maher Asssad by his driver, and stated, "We have information substantiating that these rumors are void of truth and are sheer lies."
Mortaza said that such lies are not new and are more aimed at boosting the morale in opposition camp, specially after resignation of key opposition figures from the so-called Syrian National Council.
He noted that such rumors in the cyber space are in line with efforts to divert the public opinion from the infightings among the Syrian opposition.
A key activist group threatened Thursday to withdraw from Syria's main opposition umbrella grouping, saying the council has drifted away from the spirit of the Syrian revolution.
A pullout by the Local Coordination Committees from the so-called Syrian National Council would be a blow for the group, which is already facing political and organizational challenges in its quest to oust President Bashar Assad.
Several prominent dissidents, including Haitham al-Maleh and Kamal al-Labawani, have already quit the SNC, calling it an "autocratic" organization.
Meantime, the leader of the SNC Burhan Ghalioun said he will resign because of infighting and disagreements among members.