Mid-East reacts to Assad's death

Israel says it "understands the sorrow of the people of Syria" at the death of their President.

A statement issued by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said that, despite the death of Mr Assad, Israel would continue with the peace deal it was forging with Syria.

In an interview with the BBC the Arab League Secretary General Ismat Abd-al-Majid has warned Israel against any manipulation of the peace process.

Palestinians have also expressed sorrow at Mr Assad's death, interrupting television transmissions to broadcast the Koran.

The Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, declared three days of official mourning.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service