Former Syrian Officer Charged with War Crimes in UK

0:00On March 10th, a 58-year-old former Syrian military intelligence officer faced charges in a U.K. court for crimes against humanity. Salem, Michelle Ausellum, is accused of leading a brutal crackdown on protesters in the village of Jobar near Damascus back in April 2011. This marks the first time U.K. prosecutors have brought murder charges as a crime against humanity under the International Criminal Court Act of 2, 2001. They were spent over five years gathering evidence with help from partners around the world. Ausellum, who suffers from motor neuron disease, appeared via video link at Westminster magistrate's court, unable to speak and using an oxygen mask. He was released on bail as the case moves forward. This prosecution highlights the U.K.'s no-safe haven policy for alleged war criminals, no matter where the crimes happened. It's only the second case from Scotland Yard's war crimes unit in the past 20 years following a previous one that fell apart on a technicality.

1:02Officials stress they'll pursue these serious allegations rigorously. The charges include three counts of murder as a crime against humanity, three counts of torture and one related to aiding murder. Prosecutors say there's enough evidence for all seven offenses tied to killings and attacks on civilians during the early Syrian uprising. Ausellum's next hearing is set for Friday at the Old Bailey, where the case will take its next steps in this landmark effort to hold him accountable.