UN chief praises President al-Assad's traits

The Secretary General of the UN Kofi Annan has expressed deep sorrow over the death of President Hafez al-Assad. In a statement, Annan said the death of the late President was a great loss to Syria, the Arab world and the region as a whole.

Annan added that he remembers President Hafez al-Assad as a man of a rich reference for information, a man of principle and unwavering leader who led his country for many decades.