Nicosia - The Syrian authorities yesterday confirmed reports that the former prime minister, Mr Mahmoud Zohbi, committed suicide on Sunday, writes Michael Jansen. Mr Zohbi, who served in this post from 1987 until March of this year, was due to appear in court on corruption charges.
On May 10th he was expelled from the leadership of the ruling Baath party after the official daily Tishrin revealed that corruption was costing the treasury at least $50,000 a day and that 39 cases of fraud, representing losses of $4.5 million, had been uncovered in the first quarter of the year.
Further expulsions and arraignments are expected during the anti-corruption campaign being waged by Dr Bashar Assad, the son and presumed heir of President Hafez Assad.