CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY IN LEBANON™

Syria

Source: The Economist | Sep 06, 05

When Bashar Assad, son of the Syrian dictator Hafez Assad, succeeded his father in 2000, many hoped the new president would bring new freedoms. But after five years in power, Mr Assad and his Baath party seem incapable of radical reform and Syria remains an authoritarian state. Meanwhile, Syria has been diplomatically isolated due to concern over its weapons programs and its continuing feud with Israel. Despite several rounds of peace talks, Syria and Israel continue to disagree, especially over water and Syria’s unofficial support of Hizbullah, a political resistance group.

Syria's dominance of Lebanese politics came to an end in 2005, after nearly three decades of meddling. The assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, led to large public protests and Lebanon's pro-Syrian government was forced to resign. In April 2005 Syria withdrew its 35,000-strong occupying army from the country.

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