Lib Dem peer among high-profile British figures attending 'regime PR exercise’ conference in Syria
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Several British academics and journalists are attending a conference organised by President Bashar al-Assad’s father-in-law in the Syrian capital of Damascus, in a move which has been called a “mistake” by anti-regime critics. Liberal Democrats peer Raymond Asquith, or Lord Oxford, former special forces officer Major General John Holmes, and research analyst Kamal Alam of think tank Rusi, are among those expected to speak alongside Syrian government representatives. It has been organised by the London-based British Syrian Society's founder Fawaz Akhras, the father of Mr Assad's wife Asma, who has kept a low media profile since war broke out in country in 2011, but used to regularly organise conferences and talks between Syrian and UK politicians.
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