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| Bashar al-Assad |
President Bashar al-Assad, who inherited power from his father in 2000 and who friend and opponent alike say appears increasingly detached from reality, is convinced he is fighting a conspiracy against him and Syria.
Around Assad is a tight circle of family and clan members, and a security establishment staffed mainly by adherents of the Alawite minority to which the Assads belong, a branch of Shi'ite Islam in a country that is three quarters Sunni.
Support for Assad in outlying cities and even in the capital Damascus is quickly falling apart and residents say the only sign of any government presence are some tanks and armored personnel carriers stationed on main roads. Traffic and ordinary police are nowhere to be seen.
In Damascus rebels are now manning many checkpoints, blocking streets and clashing with government troops. This which would have seemed impossible only a few days ago, say observers.
Curtain time for the Assad family could come very soon.
