Syrian official 'arrested for corruption'

Mr Yasin (right) pictured with late PM Mahmoud al-Zohbi

The Syrian authorities are reported to have arrested a former deputy prime minister on corruption charges.

Salim Yasin is the third senior official to be detained for suspected graft in recent months.

He is accused of receiving illegal commissions from the purchase of a number of Airbus aircraft for the national airline in 1996.

Judicial sources in Damascus told Reuters news agency that Mr Yasin would be tried on charges of dishonesty and embezzlement of public funds.

The accused "forced the national air carrier to sign a deal with conditions that violated all regions and laws effective in the country"

Syrian judicial source

The former prime minister, Mahmoud al-Zohbi, killed himself last month after being accused of similar crimes.

Also facing trial over the Airbus deal are a former transport minister, Mufeed Abdul Karim, and a businessman, Mounir Abu Khadour.

Assets seized

Mr Abdul Karim was taken into custody on the same day Mr al-Zohbi committed suicide. Mr Abu Khadour, who has dual Syrian-Spanish citizenship, is in Spain.

The state news agency quoted prosecutors as saying all four men had incurred "big financial losses" for Syria through the purchase of six Airbus-320 passenger planes from the French-based European consortium.

The agency did not say how much money was lost or how the men were believed to have embezzled it.

In May, the government froze the assets and property of Mr Yasin and Mr Abdul Karim, pending the outcome of an inquiry. Mr Abu Khadour's assets were frozen on Saturday.

Fighting against corruption

Correspondents say the latest charges indicate that the death two weeks ago of President Hafez al-Assad will not slow down the anti-corruption drive of his son and designated political heir, Bashar.

It had been thought that the campaign might ease up while he consolidated his hold on power.

Bashar is expected to be elected president in a one-candidate poll early next month.

On Saturday, Syria's ruling Ba'ath Party elected him as secretary-general of its executive - bringing the 34-year-old another step closer to taking over the vacant presidency.

The unanimous vote came a day before parliament was expected to approve Bashar's presidential nomination.