Syrian on trial in Austria for suspected killing of 20 Assad troops

VIENNA (Reuters) - A Syrian asylum seeker went on trial in Austria on Wednesday accused of killing 20 government soldiers fighting for President Bashar al-Assad near the city of Homs, a court spokesman said. Austria has jailed several people for "belonging to a terrorist organization", a charge usually leveled against foreign or local fighters fighting in Syria alongside Islamic State militants. But the 27-year-old suspect in the Innsbruck case is not accused of being a member of any outlawed militant group, the court spokesman said. It is the first case in Austria to involve the suspected killing of troops loyal to Assad. (Reporting By Shadia Nasralla; Editing by Gareth Jones)