Rifaat Assad, the younger brother of former Syrian President Hafez Assad and uncle of President Bashar Assad, announced his decision to return to Syria after 20 years in exile to pursue his "national and political role." In a statement issued in Nicosia, spokesman Harith al-Khayer said that the 67-year-old Rifaat's decision to return to Syria aimed at "fulfilling his political responsibilities and the will of the Syrians to build a society of justice, freedom and peace."He said Rifaat will announce the date of his return shortly. The spokesman stressed that Rifaat will not present himself as a substitute for the current President Bashar Assad, but that he views the situation in Syria as grave and that efforts ought to be made to re-instate national unity. On Monday, Rifaat had said in a statement that "what is happening in Syria is a real farce and an unconstitutional piece of theater which is a real violation of the law and the Constitution."