Syria's parliament stripped MP Khalil Hajem al-Safuq of his government immunity Tuesday for brandishing a handgun in a personal quarrel, a parliamentary source said.
"This decision was made to permit the courts to open proceedings with the deputy who could not be arrested without authorization from parliament," an MP told AFP on condition of anonymity.
During the course of the argument, Safuq had "brandished a gun," the source said.
Safuq is now one of six members of the 250-strong parliament currently facing legal proceedings.
Four MPs are being investigated for abuses of power. The parliament lifted immunity for three members of the ruling al-Baath party, accused of fraud, and for an MP from a party allied to Baath, a lawyer accused of breaching the confidence of a client.
Independent MP Riad Seif, who hosts political salons, also had his immunity stripped for calling for an end to Syria's exclusive Baath party rule -- DAMASCUS (AFP)
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