August 20, 1999

The Paris-based al-Watan al-Arabi reports 2 sources as saying that neither Syrian pres. Hafiz al-Asad nor his son and heir-apparent, Bashar, attended the funeral of King Hassan of Morocco on 7/25 because the U.S. warned that it had evidence a coup (possibly orchestrated by the president's brother Rifat, who attempted to overthrow Asad in 1983) might be staged while they were abroad. (al-Watan al-Arabi 8/20 in WNC 8/23)