Hafez al-Assad was the President of Syria, who ruled the country since the 1970 Corrective Movement, died from a heart attack on 10 June 2000 at the age of 69. His funeral was held three days later in Damascus, and he was buried in a mausoleum in his hometown Qardaha in Latakia Governorate, beside his eldest son Bassel al-Assad who died in 1994. He was succeeded by Abdul Halim Khaddam as caretaker president until presidential elections were held. Several national leaders paid tribute as the leader's body lay in state in the People's Palace.
