Former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam commented on the death of the former Political Security Branch chief, Rustom Ghazali, saying: "I am confident that Rustom Ghazali was killed by regime intelligence after Assad realized Ghazali had become useless and may threaten the regime in the future".
Khaddam told al-Watan Saudi newspaper that Assad had ordered the killing of Ghazali after he saw no further use for him. Khaddam claimed that everyone expected a tragic end for Ghazali, as the regime routinely exterminates any figure that could possibly lead a coup against the state.
The former regime official noted: "Speculations about the reality of the death of Ghazali were abundant, but his death is no longer important for Syrians because the killer is Assad and the slain is Ghazali – both have worked for years on the extermination of Syrian people inside the regime’s interrogation rooms and prisons. All this was conducted by the Syrian police who followed direct orders from Ghazali himself. Ghazali was responsible of the oppression of four million citizens".
Media agencies close to the regime and pro-regime social media, including the "fans of Gen. Rustom Ghazali" page, confirmed the news of the Ghazali’s death.
Ghazali was hospitalized over a month ago after suffering serious injuries following a dispute with former Syrian Military Security Chief Rafiq Shehadeh. Shehadeh's bodyguards are reported to have severely beaten Ghazali in the incident. Ghazali later entered a coma after suffering a mysterious poisoning case in Damascus’ ash-Shami hospital.
The regime's decision to dismiss Shehadeh from office and appoint Mohammed Mahla instead reinforced public speculation on Ghazali’s brutal attack, with a regime source revealing to the AFP news agency that Assad had previously dismissed Ghazali from his position.
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
