DAMASCUS, Syria — As foreign dignitaries and the world's media poured into this insular capital Monday on the eve of President Hafez Assad's state funeral, the first public challenge emerged to the well-oiled plan for passing the mantle of leadership to his son Bashar.
Assad's ambitious younger brother Rifaat, who held the title of vice president until two years ago, gave a series of interviews from exile in Spain to say that he had a right to run the country, could do it better than the 34-year-old Bashar and would transform Syria into a democracy.
"There will be a new 'corrective movement' for a new path that will include all political, social and economic sectors," said Rifaat Assad, 63. "There will be freedom in Syria--and the citizen will take up his role in building the country," he said on his family-owned Arab News Network, which can be received in Syria.
"Corrective movement" was the name used for the bloodless coup that brought Hafez Assad to power in 1970.
Rifaat Assad also pledged to return home "at the appropriate time" to vie for power, despite official warnings that he would be arrested if he set foot in the country. Once Hafez Assad's closest political ally, Rifaat fell out with the late president after trying to usurp his power in 1984 when the president was recovering from a heart ailment. He has not lived in Syria since 1986.
Nevertheless, rumors circulated that he would try to attend his brother's burial in their family's native village of Qurdaha. One diplomatic source suggested that it might be religiously forbidden, or haram, to keep Rifaat Assad from the rites.
It is unclear if the exiled Assad commands meaningful support among Syria's byzantine military and political elite. The powerful Syrian military has appeared to line up behind Bashar Assad, newly promoted to lieutenant general and commander in chief of the armed forces, whose photograph in fatigues was plastered throughout Damascus on Monday.
A government spokesman insisted that Syria is united in its time of national mourning. "I don't think Bashar will face any difficulties in continuing the policies of his father," the spokesman said.
No Real Threat Seen
Murhaf Jouejati, a Syrian political analyst based in Washington, said he sees no way a challenge by Rifaat Assad could succeed.
