An influential Shiite cleric was shot dead in central Syria, a conflict monitor said Thursday, with the faith's highest body in the country denouncing his "assassination".

BEIRUT: An influential Shi’ite cleric was shot dead in central Syria, a conflict monitor said today, with the faith’s highest body in the country denouncing his “assassination”. Sheikh ...

The shooting took place late on Thursday night just a few hundred meters from where another firebrand cleric, Aboud Rogo, was shot dead in his vehicle in August 2012 in a strikingly similar attack ...