Bashar el-Assad, the prodigal son

June 2012. Bashar el-Assad made a grand entrance at the Parlamento.De stone and lime in power, unlike many other leaders, brought down by the so-called Arab spring. This after 15 months of revolt and more than 16,000 deaths in Syria: "we don't do this because we care about bloodshed. This battle has been imposed and the result is all this blood spilled. Some would say it would be better to pour it on the border of the Golan, but now the enemy is inside, "he said then.

The life of Bashar el-Assad suffers a radical change in 1994, when the older brother, Basel, successor of the dynasty established by his father, Hafez, dies in a car accident. Bashar was living at the time in London, where it was intended to be doctor ophthalmologist.

Named for his father, President Hafez el-Assad, Bashar returns to Syria, where he was given a quick training for power.

Hafez died in 2000. The son becomes head of the armed forces and Parliament amends the Constitution to Bashar, 34-year-old then could rule.

Assumes the Presidency in July 2000. at the inauguration, promises economic and political reforms.Is seen by the people as the leader who can lead the country towards democracy.

But reforms are timid, because of opposition from more radical members and administration inherited from the father. In 2007, wins the Presidency, with almost 98 percent of the vote in a referendum. Is the only candidate.

Syria's revolt began in March 2011, shortly after the fall of the regime of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt. Is in the town of Deraa buys the first demonstrations against Bashar el-Assad.

Begin the acts of repression by the regime. After months of uprising, hundreds of people die and thousands are injured. NGOs speak of true massacres. The Houla, near Homs, stays in history with 108 dead, almost half children. The international community is shocked and the Syrian regime denies any involvement.

Diplomatic missions succeed. between February and July 2012, Kofi Annan multiplies the trips to Damascus to try to reach an agreement on the peace plan, without success.

In early September, the Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi succeeded Annan, but soon after the first visit to Damascus, says this is a mission almost impossible.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the Russian and Chinese allies block the u.n. use of force on the part of the international community.

Assad believed was very popular in the country. Featured, especially with an army of 300,000 men, supported by a powerful and fanatical supporters to the alawite minority, for whom the leader represents the barrier to Sunni insurgents.

During the two years of conflict, not for State television to show the demonstrations in support of President Assad, who never hid the intention to seek re-election in 2014.

In one of the final appearances, Assad vowed Syria would defend itself against any aggression.

While some Western countries were discussing a possible military offensive, after the alleged chemical attack of 21 August, the damask began preparing for war. Some stored provisions, others began to tidy up the cellars to store bombs.

The authorities were trying to protect the buildings, potential targets of bombings, in particular the Presidential Palace, where until now was unfurled the flag of Syria.

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