DATE=6/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SYRIA ASSAD (L)
NUMBER=2-263352
BYLINE=LISA BRYANT
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Syria's long-time leader, Hafez al-Assad, died
today/Saturday following a long illness. He was 69.
From Cairo, Lisa Bryant reports that Syria's
parliament already appears to be opening the way for
President Assad's son, Bashar, to assume the
presidency.
TEXT: News of President Assad's death was announced
on Syrian state television by a tearful anchorman.
This is a day of sadness, the announcer said. He
added that Mr. Assad has left a legacy that will shine
on Syria's present and future generations.
The announcement was followed by televised shots of
somber members of Syria's parliament wiping away tears
for their departed leader and with recitations from
the Koran.
But the parliament then went straight to business.
Lawmakers passed an article amending Syria's
constitution to lower the required age for a head of
state from 40 to 34. That is the age of Mr. Assad's
son, Bashar.
Mr. Assad reportedly had been grooming Bashar for the
presidency. Bashar Assad, who is a trained eye
doctor, has never held a prominent political post.
The younger Assad was expected to assume a leadership
position in Syria's ruling Baath party later this
month. But analysts say they believe his possible
candidacy as leader may still face opposition within
Syria's power structure.
President Assad reportedly had been suffering from
heart, kidney and other problems. Speculation has
been rife in recent months that he was seriously ill.
Following his death, a Syrian expert told the Agence-
France Presse news agency that Mr. Assad had been
suffering from advanced diabetes that affected his
eyes and his circulation.
Although Mr. Assad began peace negotiations with
Israel late last year, he died without cinching a
peace accord with that country. The two sides have
been deadlocked over Syria's insistence for a full
Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights. But
Damascus has recently demonstrated more flexibility on
another piece of disputed territory -- called the
Shebaa Farms -- saying Israel could hand the land over
either to Syria or to Lebanon.
Mr. Assad's passing follows a string of recent deaths
by long-term Arab leaders that is shifting the power
equation in the region to a younger generation.
Besides the Syrian leader, long-serving heads of state
from Jordan, Morocco and Bahrain have also died over
the past year and a half. (SIGNED)
NEB/LB/JP
10-Jun-2000 13:49 PM EDT (10-Jun-2000 1749 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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