al-assad

He grew up in the shadow of his father, the late President Hafez al-Assad, and his older brother, who was groomed to be the next president.

In the beginning, al-Assad was viewed by some as a fresh, youthful leader who might usher in a more progressive, more moderate regime.

Some of these reforms have, on paper, been implemented by al-Assad, but they were far too little and, by the time they came about, too late.

The military assault killed at least 35 people, dozens of them in Deraa, and sparked more condemnations of the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Reports from Syria say at least 12 people have been killed in the latest protests calling for the removal of President Bashar al-Assad.

Kerry said the discussion will focus on how to get Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to accept the reality of his situation.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on anti-government protesters has been leavened with at least verbal concessions to reform.

Within weeks, al-Assad was also made a member of the regional command for the ruling Baath Party, another requirement of succession.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad seems to have a knack for making enemies and losing friends.

The President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, has announced that long-standing emergency laws will be lifted in the next week.

The President of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, has signed decrees ending nearly 50 years of emergency rule.

The protests against Bashar al-Assad in Syria have made Israel's northern borders unpredictable as well.

Above, a Syrian boy rides a tank alongside others waving the national flag and a soldier holding a portrait of President Bashar al-Assad.

Remember, some entertained hopes that Bashar al-Assad, a UK-trained ophthalmologist, would transform Syria when he became president.

Rabin thought he could make a deal with Syrian president Hafez al-Assad before or soon after the Palestinian process was completed.

In Damascus, Bashar al-Assad's brutal repression of his citizens has simply put him beyond the pale.

A key advisor to President Bashar al-Assad was also killed in the port city of Tartous, in August, but no one claimed responsibility.

While there have been some changes during his rule, many say al-Assad's promises have largely not been delivered.

Two years later, Bashar al-Assad is still President, the fighting hasn't stopped.

"They know that people did not elect Bashar al-Assad or the rest of his family, " says the Syrian political analyst.

Activists say that with the current protests, however, al-Assad can no longer look away.

Reports that it is clear that the requirements of the United States for the first time al-Assad to step down.

The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says his government is in no danger of falling despite five months of street protests.

Of all the Arab dictators, none has reacted to his people's call for freedom with more unbridled viciousness than Syria's Bashar al-Assad.

Thankfully, it is too late for that, in spite of the murderous efforts of Bashir al-Assad's regime to silence protests in Syria.

But the deaths of his father and brother thrust a young Bashar al-Assad into power.

Heavy gunfire was heard in Deraa following an attempt by protesters to destroy a statue of the late President Hafez al-Assad.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah held talks with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman in Beirut, Friday.

Syrian opposition groups ended a two-day meeting in Turkey on Thursday with the demand that President Bashar al-Assad step down.

In 2011, some Syrians were protesting their President Bashar al-Assad, they wanted him out of power.

The US government has been critical of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, and has called for his ouster.

He has planned meetings in Damascus Friday with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad as well as Hamas' top leader Khaled Meshaal.

Earlier, Syria's state television broadcast images of rallies supporting President Bashar al-Assad.

Iran stands isolated in the Islamic world in its support for President Bashar al-Assad.

The US embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus has been attacked by crowds loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Owen Bennett-Jones reports.

President Bashar al-Assad inherited a functioning security apparatus.

Lakhdar Brahimi is expected to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the trip.

Speaking after Meshaal, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called on Arab states to cut all ties with Israel.

Syrians campaigning against President Bashar al-Assad say they've formed a single body to represent the opposition.

But air power has remained a large advantage for President Bashar al-Assad, whose air force has pounded many cities and towns.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree granting a general amnesty, state media say.

Syria has been rocked by more than a month of protests against the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Another was more direct: "Bashar al-Assad, how do you feel today? "

Meanwhile, President Bashar al-Assad appointed a new defence minister.

Protests against President Bashar al-Assad have re-erupted across Syria.

Can you use the example of Bashar al-Assad to help us understand more?

Demonstrators called for President Bashar al-Assad to resign.

That was President Obama on Monday talking about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian forces shot dead 16 people when they fired on protesters demanding the removal of President Bashar al-Assad.

They chanted slogans against the government and against President Bashar al-Assad.

Al-Assad, now 45, denies he is a dictator, seeing himself instead as a modern leader.

People say they didn't initially want President Bashar al-Assad to go.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad addressed his new Cabinet on Tuesday, and expressed the need to focus the government on the fighting.

The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad doesn't make threats lightly.

"I think President al-Assad is a very honest person and he will change, " says Tarcha.

After Bashar al-Assad, the deluge.

Little progress was made in the talks, which were brokered by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

This is a lesson that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has learned well.

Now, it is Syria's Bashar al-Assad's turn, though he's still clinging to power.

Bashar al-Assad visited Paris in 2008 and 2009: silence.

On Saturday, President Bashar al-Assad pledged to lift the country's long-standing emergency laws within a week;

President Bashar al-Assad is facing unprecedented domestic pressure amid a wave of dissent [AFP]

Demonstrators protest against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, on December 19, 2011. (Reuters) #