Israel ponders Assad's death

The Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, says the death of President Assad marks the end of an era in the Middle East.

In a statement issued after a cabinet meeting, Mr Barak said Israel would continue to work for a peace agreement with the new Syrian leadership -- but Israel would stand firm on its vital interests.

Officially, Israel is still in a state of war with Syria -- with talks deadlocked on the return of the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967.

The BBC Jerusalem correspondent says there's hope in Israel that President Assad's death may open up new possibilities for peace.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service