Simple directory > Regional > Syria

Country :Syria Official name: Jumhuriya al Arabya as Suriya (Syrian Arab Republic) Head of State: President Bashar al Assad (elected Jul 2000) Head of government: Prime Minister Mohammed Naji al Otari (appointed 10 Sep 2003) Ruling party: National Progressive Front (NPF) formed by: Hizb al Ba'ath al Arabi al Ishtiraki (Ba'ath Party) (Arab Socialist Rebirth Party), Hizb al Ishtiraki al Arabi (HIA) (Arab Socialist Party), Hizb al Shuyui al Suri (HSS) (Communist Party of Syria), Ittihad al Ishtiraki al Arabi (IIA) (Arab Socialist Unity), Hizb al Dimuqrati al Tawdhidi al Ishtiraki (HDII) (Socialist Unionist Democratic Party), Haraka at Tawhidiyah al Ishtirakiyah (HTI) (Socialist Unity Movement) Area: 185,180 square km (plus 1,295 square km Israeli-controlled area, Golan Heights) Population: 19.23 million (2004) Capital: Damascus Official language: Arabic Currency: Syrian pound (Syr£) = 100 piastres Exchange rate: Syr£52.24 per US$ (Nov 2004) GDP per capita: US$1,226 (2003) GDP real growth: 0.90% (2003) Labour force: 5.20 million (2003) Unemployment: 20.00% (2003) Inflation: 1.50% (2003) Oil production: 594,000 bpd (2003) Balance of trade: US$592.00 million (2003) Foreign debt: US$22.00 billion (2003)

Historical profile

635 Syria was part of the Muslim world, although retaining Jewish and Christian populations.

1095 Christians in Europe launched the first of their Crusades, building a defensive chain of castles, including Crac des Chevaliers in Syria.

1187 The Syrians fought back and Saladin recaptured Jerusalem.

For 200 years, Syria was united with Egypt under the rule of the Turkish Mamelukes. In the sixteenth century, it was absorbed into the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

1918 After the First World War, Syria and Lebanon became subject to a French mandate.

1926 Greater Lebanon was made a separate state.

1946 Syria became independent. Shukri al Kuwatli became Syria's first president.

The next 25 years were marked by unstable presidencies and coups.

1948 Syria contributed to a pan-Arab military force that failed to occupy the newly-created state of Israel.

1963 The Hizb al Ba'ath al Arabi al Ishtiraki (Ba'ath Party) (Arab Socialist Rebirth Party) seized power.

1967 Israel launched the Six Day War, with pre-emptive airstrikes, followed by a quick ground offensive against Egyptian, Jordanian and Syrian coalition forces. The Six Day War ended in the Arab forces' defeat. Israel took over the Golan Heights.

1970 Former air force commander and defence minister, Hafez al Assad, seized power in a bloodless coup.

1971 Al Assad was elected president; he was re-elected for four further seven-year terms in 1978, 1985, 1992 and 1999.

1973 The 6 October War (also known as the Yom Kippur War). Egypt and Syria invaded Israel but despite some early successful strategic gains Israel counter-attacked and repelled the invasion.

1991 Syria participated in the US-led allied military operations against Iraq. Lebanon and Syria signed a Treaty of Brotherhood, Co-operation and Co-ordination.

2000 President Hafez al Assad died and was succeeded by his son Bashar al Assad.

2001 The UN General Assembly voted Syria a two-year seat on the Security Council. A new cabinet was formed with more reform-minded officials in 20 out of 33 posts, part of the president's attempts to reform the largely state-run economy. The government resigned and the president asked Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Miro to form a new government.

2002 The US administration named Syria as part of an 'axis of evil', along with Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya and North Korea.

2003 The ruling National Progressive Front (led by the Ba'ath Party) won the 5 March parliamentary elections. On 10 September, President Bashar al Assad accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa Mero's cabinet and appointed Muhammed Naji al Otari as the new prime minister. Syria denied US allegations that it is developing chemical weapons and helping fugitive Iraqis. In April, the US threatened economic, diplomatic and other sanctions.

2004 After an attack on the UN building in Damascus, officials implied Islamic militants were responsible. In May, the US imposed economic sanctions on Syria, saying that it supported terrorism and failed to stop militants entering Iraq.

2005 In February, former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al Hariri was assassinated in a car bomb attack in Beirut; the US withdrew its ambassador from Damascus, citing Syrian influence in Lebanon. Syria formed a common `front' with Iran, another country under pressure from the US. Syria captured and handed over to Iraq Saddam Hussein's half brother, Sab'awi Ibrahim al Hasan al Tikriti. On 28 February, thousands of protesters gathered in Beirut, demanding the withdrawal of Syrian troops from their country and Lebanon's pro-Syrian government resigned. The presidents of Lebanon and Syria agreed on 7 March that Syrian troops would withdraw to the Bekaa valley in eastern Lebanon. By 26 April, all troops had left.

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