President Assad's death - end of an era

Syria’s ruling party has officially nominated the son of the late President Hafez al-Assad to succeed the “great lion” who ruled the country for 30 years.

The leadership of the Baath Party said in a statement yesterday it had unanimously nominated Bashar al-Assad for the presidency during a meeting on Saturday night. The move appeared aimed at ensuring domestic continuity and stability and reviving peace efforts with Israel. Israel, Assad’s long time adversary, said the death of one of the longest serving Arab leaders marked the end of an era in a changing Middle East.

According to the constitution, if the nomination is approved, parliament will issue a decree for a referendum in which voters would be asked to accept or reject the nominee. Officials said parliament would meet on June 25 to approve the nomination of Bashar and issue a decree for the referendum. Parliament on Saturday held a special session during which it amended the constitution to pave the way for Bashar’s appointment, reducing the minimum age of the president from 40 to 34, Bashar’s age.

U.S. President Bill Clinton, for whom a final Middle East settlement would crown his final year in office, said he regretted there had been no such deal during Assad’s lifetime. Russian President Vladimir Putin described Assad as a friend of Russia. He was also quoted as saying the Syrian leader’s death caused him concern for the future of the Middle East peace process. Unlike other Arab leaders criticised as tools in the hands of Israel and its allies, Assad refused to compromise with the Jewish state on the Golan Heights, which Syria lost in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Reuters