DHAKA: Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad marks his 48th birthday on Wednesday with the threat of US-led strikes against his regime in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack apparently receding.

A Syrian pro-regime site called on residents of the capital Damascus to demonstrate their support for Assad by joining a convoy of cars in the Mazzeh district to honour him.

Assad, a British-trained ophthalmologist who has three children, succeeded his father Hafez, who died in 2000.

He came to the position of heir unexpectedly, after his brother Bassel was killed in a car accident, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1732 HRS, SEPT 11, 2013
RoR/RIS