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Release of Syrian soldier accused or war crimes stirs protests

Protesters rallied in the city of al-Bab, which is controlled by factions allied with Turkey, demanding an investigation into the release by the opposition-affiliated military police of a soldier accused of murder and rape.
Members of the Syrian army deploy in the al-Rashidin 1 district, in Aleppo's southwestern countryside, on Feb. 16, 2020.

ALEPPO, Syria — Dozens of angry residents of al-Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo gathered on May 22 in front of the military police building in the city, demanding accountability for those responsible for the release from the military police prison of a regime army soldier accused of war crimes without bringing him to justice.

The protesters blocked the main roads in the city and surrounded the military police building with burning tires. The movement was triggered by the expiry of a 72-hour deadline the Ministry of Defense of the Syrian opposition-affiliated Interim Government had given to the temporary military investigation committee established to submit the results of the investigation into the case of the suspect.

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