Ba'ath Party: Syria's pillar of power

Party faithful: Bashar (centre) can rely on old guard for now

By Barbara Plett in Damascus

Syria's ruling Ba'ath Party, which is rallying round Bashar al-Assad as the best candidate to continue his father's legacy, is traditionally one of the country's main power bases.

Bashar is expected to head a new party executive that will include officials, ministers and young newcomers who support his programme for economic and administrative reform.

Syria spent 30 years under the autocratic rule of Hafez al-Assad

Members of the party's old guard may earlier have opposed Bashar's leadership because they traditionally benefit from the status quo.

But they are giving him their backing for the time being as a means of keeping Syria stable.

The Ba'ath Party was a nationalist movement created in Damascus in the 1940s that advocated socialism and Arab unity.

The party came to power in 1953, but years of in-fighting between the military and civilian branches followed.

The hardline element won out when Hafez al-Assad seized power in 1970.

Rubber stamp

Observers say the party has become a rubber stamp for the policies of the government after 30 years of autocratic rule.

Nevertheless, past congresses have allowed the rank-and-file to voice opinions about national issues.

During the last one, in 1985, there was candid criticism of corruption and economic stagnation.

These issues were also meant to be high on the agenda of the Ba'ath Party's present conference, but such discussions were expected to be cut back to allow time for eulogising the late president.

Observers expect a general commitment to government policies such as peace with Israel and economic reform, postponing possible dissent until the situation becomes clearer in the coming months.