Syria opens first public trial over deadly coastal violence

The 1st trial began on Tuesday for several of the hundreds of suspects accused of involvement in the deadly clashes that erupted earlier this year in Syria’s coastal provinces and soon escalated into sectarian violence. According to state media, 14 individuals were brought before the Palace of Justice in Aleppo after a months-long government investigation into the March unrest, which involved clashes between government forces and supporters of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad. The investigating committee has forwarded 563 suspects to the judiciary.