Syria's Assad Joins Prayers to Mark End of Ramadan


TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was given a warm reception by the faithful on Monday when he joined in Eid al-Fitr prayers in Damascus, to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Assad took part in prayers at the Al-Kheir mosque, in Muhajarin, near his home in northwest Damascus.

State television showed Assad being greeted by Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun and, at the end of prayers, being surrounded by scores of well-wishers keen to shake his hand.

In his sermon to the people, the mosque's imam, Mohammad As-Sawan, referred to the unrest in the country which has reportedly killed 170,000 people and called for an end to the urest, AFP reported.