The Paris Court of Appeal upholds the conviction of Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, to four years in prison for fraudulently building up assets in France valued at 90 million euros. "This is a very positive signal," says Chanez Mensous, of the Sherpa association. "It is a judgment that is contrary to all the rules of criminal law," says the defence lawyer, who has announced an appeal to the Supreme Court. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES