DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) -- Damascus erupted in shouts, honks and tears Saturday as hundreds of bereaved Syrians poured out into the streets to mourn the death of President Hafez Assad, the only leader many have ever known.
At least one man fainted, overcome by emotions. Young men, many of them wearing black clothes and black bands on their foreheads, circled the streets leading up to the presidential palace and Assad's private residence.As police looked on, the crowd cried "Allahu Akbar!" or God is great, and shouted slogans expressing support for Bashar Assad, the late leader's son and heir apparent.
"With our souls, with our blood, we will protect you, Oh Bashar," the crowd chanted.
The government declared a 40-day mourning period. Syria's red-black-and-white flags were lowered to half-staff in mourning. Stores quickly shuttered. Secondary school exams were postponed until next week. Loudspeakers at government buildings, hotels and other establishments resounded with verses from the Koran, Islam's holy book, in the traditional Islamic way of mourning.
Assad, who died at the age of 69 on Saturday, is the only leader the younger generation has ever known, having ruled Syria for 30 years.
"My father died today, our beloved president has left us. There are no words to describe my sorrow," said Bassem Soudan, a university student in his 20s who had taken off his shirt and taped a picture of Assad to his chest.
"I never thought I would see another leader. I thought he was immortal," said Mohammed Kurdi, a 30-year-old taxi driver.
Dozens of cars with pictures of Assad and Bashar on their windshields drove around town, honking. About a 100 policemen kept watch, ringing intersections to keep people from walking onto the palace grounds.
Some quietly mourned by flying black ribbons on the antennas of their cars. Long black flags were draped on cars and hung on government buildings and homes.
One woman wept as she kissed a picture of the late president. Another danced as she waved a picture of his 34-year-old son. The man who fainted was bundled into an ambulance.
"Our only consolation is Dr. Bashar. He is our hope," Amal Srour, an 18-year-old woman, said about the British-educated ophthalmologist expected to succeed his father.