Death of President Assad of Syria

President Hafez al-Assad of Syria has died.

He was sixty nine and had been ill for some time.

The news was announced on Syrian television by a visibly upset presenter.

The television played martial music and then showed members of the ruling Baath party in parliament weeping at the news.

Unofficial reports say Mr Assad died of a heart attack.

It's expected that he will be succeeded by his son, Bashar, who is in his thirties.

Parliament has amended the constitution, which had required the president to be at least forty.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service