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Who is Bashar Al-Assad?

Aired June 11, 2000 - 8:01 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: Observers say the way is now set for a smooth transition of power in Syria after the death of President Hafez Al-Assad. A 40-day period of national mourning continues over Hafez Al-Assad, as his son Bashar was named commander of the armed forces Sunday. Also, the ruling Baath Party nominated the younger Assad, the sole candidate for the presidency.

CNN's Rula Amin takes a look now at the man poised to become Syria's new leader.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Bashar, Bashar, go ahead, millions are with you," the demonstrators chanted, support from thousands of Syrians to the 34-year-old for him to succeed his father.

In 1994, Bashar was studying in Britain to become an ophthalmologist, but destiny took him away from medicine and into politics at the age of 28. Following the death of his eldest brother, who was being groomed to succeed his father, Hafez Al-Assad asked Bashar to return to Damascus for a new career. For the past six years, the father has groomed the son to succeed him.

Dr. Bashar, as he is known here, joined the armed forces and became a colonel. Gradually, his father expanded his son's role to include Syria's relations with Lebanon. Bashar also pushed for the opening up of Syria's bureaucratic and centralized economy.

IBRAHEEM HAMIDI, AL-HAYAT CORRESPONDENT: Bashar Al-Assad is very open-minded, very modest, very modernized.

AMIN: He was keen on bringing information technology into Syria.

(on camera): The young colonel also pushed for more freedom of expression in Syria, a country that had been ruled by one party for the last 30 years. But it was Bashar's campaign against the widespread corruption in this country that has earned him popularity among Syrians, especially young people.

MICHAEL HUDSON, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: This has played very well for him. I think Dr. Bashar has gained a lot of respect from a lot of people because he seems to be pointing in the right direction.

AMIN: It was a risky move that won Bashar both new allies and new enemies.

HUDSON: And one can imagine that people in the system who have benefited from that will only naturally be worried if the new man comes in with an idea of reforming things.

AMIN: The campaign, supervised by his father, also eliminated any opponents.

As the ruling Baath Party moves ahead to elevate Bashar Al-Assad to power, some still doubt if the young colonel, who is known as a very polite and shy person, can play hardball. Bashar is still a mystery to many in Syria and outside it, but there seems to be consensus that the son is taking Syria on a new course.

Rula Amin, CNN, Damascus.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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