Ex-Syrian colonel appears in UK court on charges of crimes against humanity

Salem Al-Salem faces landmark trial over alleged role in crackdown on protests in Damascus in 2011A former Syrian colonel has appeared in a London court to face charges of crimes against humanity in the first prosecution of its kind in England and Wales.Salem Al-Salem is charged with murder and torture, crimes allegedly committed during the Syrian governments violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Damascus in 2011.