jan 1, 2000 - President Hafez al-Assad of Syria dies. The Ba’ath Party selects his son, Bashar, a London-trained ophthalmologist, to succeed him.

Description:

President Hafez al-Assad of Syria dies. The Ba’ath Party selects his son, Bashar, a London-trained ophthalmologist, to succeed him. The death of al-Assad is expected to bring about more political openness, but his son quickly assumes the tight control his father had exercised on the country.

Added to timeline:

Date: