Bashar Assad nominated to succeed father

The ruling Ba'ath party in Syria has nominated the late President Assad's son, Bashar, to take his place -- following the death of the Syrian leader yesterday.

Parliament is expected to approve his candidacy in two weeks' time and his appointment as president must then be put to a national referendum.

In the meantime, the Vice President, Abdel Halim Khaddam will be acting president.

Officials in Damascus said he had already begun work.

Bashar Assad was chosen as his father's political heir after his older brother, Basel, was killed in a car crash six years ago.

The BBC Middle East Correspondent, reporting from Damascus, says Bashar Assad must move quickly to build up a power base, particularly within the Syrian armed forces. Our correspondent says he faces rivalry from his uncle, Rifaat, and may also face resistance from some of those who were closest to his father.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service