| Death and state funeral of Hafez al-Assad | |
| Location: | Damascus, Syria |
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| Participants: | Syrian officials and dignitaries from foreign countries |
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Hafez al-Assad, the 18th president of Syria, died from a heart attack on 10 June 2000 at the age of 69.[1] [2] His funeral was held three days later in Damascus, and he was buried in a mausoleum in his hometown Qardaha in Latakia Governorate, beside his eldest son Bassel al-Assad who died in 1994.[3] [4]
He was succeeded by vice president Abdul Halim Khaddam in a caretaker capacity until presidential elections were held. Several national leaders paid tribute as the leader's body lay in state in the People's Palace.[5] [6]
Following Assad's death, 40 days of mourning was declared in Syria and 7 days in Lebanon.[7] Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, Libya, Iran, Morocco, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Kuwait and Qatar announced three days of national mourning.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] His funeral was held three days later.
President Al-Assad's health began to deteriorate in late 1983 due to his diabetes and varicose veins.[20] He was taken to Al-Shami Hospital in Damascus and placed under intensive care.[20] Then he transferred his powers during his absence to a committee consisting of five members from his close circle.[21]
Algeria President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
China President Jiang Zemin[22]
Egypt President Hosni Mubarak Egypt Minister of Foreign Affairs Amr Moussa
France President Jacques Chirac
Iraq Vice President Taha Muhie-eldin Marouf
Japan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yōhei Kōno
Jordan King Abdullah II
Lebanon President Emile Lahoud Lebanon Prime Minister Selim Hoss Lebanon Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri
Kuwait Emir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Morocco Speaker of Parliament Abdelwahed Radi
Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs Jozias van Aartsen
Qatar Prime Minister Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani
Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Abdullah
Sudan President Omar Hassan al-Bashir
Turkey President Ahmet Necdet Sezer
United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
Yemen President Ali Abdullah SalehHe was buried in a mausoleum in his hometown Qardaha in Latakia Governorate, beside his eldest son Bassel al-Assad who died in 1994.