Government

The Syrian government is headed by President Bahsar al-Assad, leader of the Arab Ba'ath Socialist Party.

The President has the power to appoint ministers of his own choice, which form the executive branch of the government. The legislative branch of the government is made up of the People's Council.

Civil servants and military personnel are also appointed by the president and it is within his power to issue laws and declare war.

The national constitution specifies that the head of state must be a Muslim.

Syria is divided into 14 governorates known as muhafazat and these in turn are subdivided into smaller, local sections.

Once considered a hard-line Arab country, Syria in the post-Gulf War period is slowly changing and its relations with the West are now on a much more friendly footing than in the recent past.