Syria announces mourning on King Hussein's death, postpones referendum

The government of the Syrian Arab Republic on Sunday issued the following statement:

"The Syrian Arab Republic expresses deep sorrows on the death of his Majesty King Hussein Bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. While sharing the sorrow of this sad event with the sisterly country of Jordan, its king and people, it has been decided to postpone the date of the referendum on the Presidency scheduled Monday February 8 1999 to Wednesday February 10, 1999 and to announce official mourning and flags to be flown at half-mast for three days on official establishments, embassies and Syrian missions abroad."

President Hafez Al-Assad and Foreign minister Farouk Al-Sharaa attended the funeral today.

Earlier on Sunday, the Jordanian government announced the death of King Hussein and the appointment of Crown Prince Abdullah as the new King of Jordan. In the afternoon, Crown Prince Abdullah sworn as the third King of the Jordanian Kingdom.

King Abdullah of Jordan appointed his brother, Prince Hamzeh, as crown prince.