Syrian president's brother-in-law dies in attack

[July 18, 2012]  BEIRUT (AP) -- Syria's state-run TV says President Bashar Assad's brother-in-law is among the dead in a suicide bombing in Damascus.

Gen. Assef Shawkat was the deputy defense minister in Syria. He was among the most feared figures in Assad's inner circle. He is married to Assad's elder sister, Bushra.

Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha also was killed in Wednesday's blast. The interior minister was wounded.

State-TV says the bomber struck the National Security building during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials.

[Associated Press]

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