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Bashar to Continue Assad's Policy, State Paper Says
Syria's government newspaper in Damascus on Wednesday proclaimed the determination of Bashar al-Assad, set to succeed his late father as president, to uphold his father's tough line on regaining Syrian land from Israel.
The process of legalising Bashar's hold on power was set to accelerate at the weekend with the ruling Baath Party's first conference in 15 years. Originally Bashar was to be given a senior role, now he will take his father's position as leader.
Assad was buried on Tuesday in his home village of Qardaha. Throughout his 30-year rule he had sought to regain the Golan Heights that Israel seized in 1967.
Bashar, who had appeared stoically unemotional throughout the 11-hours of state funeral and burial in Qardaha, visited the grave again early on Wednesday, a witness told Reuters.
The earth over the grave had been levelled and was covered with flowers. Delegations from Syria and Lebanon were arriving to visit the grave.
Reporting on the funeral, the newspaper Tishreen said: "Millions of the sons of Syria bade farewell to the champion of the nation...expressing their loyalty to his policy of struggle and his unflinching principles in defending the homeland and not relinquishing an inch of land or a claim of right.
"The crowds shouted their loyalty, affirming to the passing leader their endorsement of Lieutenant General Dr Bashar al-Assad, who carried their trust and...is determined to accomplish the immortal task and raise the flag and continue the march to progress and liberation."
WESTERN HOPES FOR FLEXIBILITY
The editorial in Tishreen, the government-owned official newspaper, was the only one to appear in the state-run media on Wednesday as the country observed both mourning for Assad and a Moslem holiday.
Bashar's reputation so far has centred on calls for economic reform and an anti-corruption campaign that appeared to be targeting increasingly prominent members of his father's administration.
His views on foreign policy are not known but Western governments have expressed hope that he will be more flexible than his father, who refused to make peace with Israel unless all occupied Syrian land was returned.
However, the new leader will probably first have to focus on securing his own hold over the country.
Analysts also say he will be reluctant to appear weaker than his formidable father by signing away Syrian claims to occupied land.
Bashar has no official government title but since his father's death has been promoted to lieutenant general and made commander in chief of the armed forces, a key position his father had held.
He has also been nominated to be the Baath Party candidate for president. Parliament is to meet on June 25 to set a date for the referendum to approve Bashar becoming president.
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