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Damascus Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday was forced to interrupt his address to the recently elected parliament due to a slight drop in blood pressure, according to a presidential statement.
Al-Assad’s parliamentary speech was interrupted for a “few minutes,” the brief statement said, adding that “the president resumed giving the address in a normal way.” The statement did not provide further details.
Syria’s state news agency SANA said the speech would be broadcast Wednesday evening.
Al-Assad, 54, took power in Syria in 2000, succeeding his father Hafez after his death. A trained ophthalmologist, the president has faced an armed rebellion against his rule since 2011 with an ensuing civil war which has since devastated Syria.
In recent years, al-Assad’s forces, supported by ally Russia, have regained large chunks of territory from Western-backed rebels and militant Islamists. (DPA)
Al-Assad’s parliamentary speech was interrupted for a “few minutes,” the brief statement said, adding that “the president resumed giving the address in a normal way.” The statement did not provide further details.
Syria’s state news agency SANA said the speech would be broadcast Wednesday evening.
Al-Assad, 54, took power in Syria in 2000, succeeding his father Hafez after his death. A trained ophthalmologist, the president has faced an armed rebellion against his rule since 2011 with an ensuing civil war which has since devastated Syria.
In recent years, al-Assad’s forces, supported by ally Russia, have regained large chunks of territory from Western-backed rebels and militant Islamists. (DPA)
