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June 17, 2011

Powerful Assad Cousin Divests of Holdings 
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In a nod to the Syrian opposition, a cousin of President Bashar
al-Assad's who's considered Syria's most powerful economic figure has
announced he is divesting from his wide business interests. State
television says Rami Makhlouf will give up his holdings in fields
including telecommunications, construction and oil, and donate his
profits to charity.



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