Bashar Assad, son of Syria's late President Hafez Assad, was elected as leader of the Baath Party, paving the way to the presidency.

Read a profile of Syria's popular President Hafez al-Assad, and learn about his political career and military roots.

Find out how the citizens of Syria reacted to the death of Hafez Assad, and read about the rise of Assad's son, Bashar.

President Hafez Assad of Syria died on June 10, 2000, apparently of heart failure. Find video clips and highlights of Assad's career.