LOC17:31
14:31 GMT
IRAN ANNOUNCES 3 DAYS OF MOURNING FOR ASSAD
TEHRAN, JUNE 11 (KUNA) -- IRAN JOINED SCORES OF ARAB COUNTRIES SUNDAY AND
ANNOUNCED THREE DAYS OF OFFICIAL MOURNING ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEATH OF
SYRIAN LEADER HAFEZ AL ASSAD, THE STATE NEWS AGENCY IRNA SAID IN A BRIEF
DISPATCH.
THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE ENJOYED CLOSE TIES SINCE AFTER THE 1979 REVOLUTION
AND DAMASCUS WAS THE ISLAMIC STATE'S KEY ALLY DURING THE 1980-88 IRAN-IRAQ WAR.
PRESIDENT ASSAD DIED SATURDAY AFTER A LONG ILLNESS. HE WAS SUCCEEDED BY
HIS SON BASHAR.
HIS FUNERAL CEREMONY WILL BE HELD TUESDAY AND MANY WORLD LEADERS ARE
EXPECTED TO ATTEND.
IRANIAN LEADERS AND SENIOR STATESMEN IN MESSAGES SUNDAY PAID GLOWING
TRIBUTE TO THE LONG-TIME SYRIAN LEADER WHO RULED FOR 30 YEARS AND WAS A KEY
PLAYER IN THE MIDDLE EAST. (END)
AS.RK
KUNA 111731 Jun 00NNNN