VOL. XLIII

No. 25

19 June 2000

The Political Scene

The death of Syrian President Hafiz al-Asad leaves a gap in the regional political scene which will have to be filled one way or another. So far the transition to his son Bashar al-Asad has passed off smoothly enough, but there could be problems ahead and Bashars elevation to the presidency has raised the whole question of "republican monarchies" in the Arab world.

Exit The Lion

On the whole the western (and particularly American) press...