French supreme court cancels arrest warrant for Bashar al-Assad

Judges rule the former Syrian leader had head of state immunity when the document was issued

France's highest court has cancelled an arrest warrant for the former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad for complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity during the country's civil war.

The Cour de cassation declared the warrant invalid under international law, which gives heads of state personal immunity from prosecution in foreign courts while they are in office.