Golan Arabs mourn Assad

Thousands of Arab residents of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights have been mourning the death of President Assad.

Carrying posters of Mr Assad, they marched from the main town in the area, Majd al-Shams to the fence marking the border with Israel.

Many were dressed in black, and were openly weeping.

The march was accompanied by a recital from the Koran relayed over loudspeakers.

One man said the whole population had been counting on President Assad to return the heights to Syria.

He hoped Mr Assad's son would achieve what his father hadn't.

At one point an Israeli military vehicle driove past and youths hurled stones at it. A group from Golan is expected to be allowed to attend Mr Assad's funeral.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service