Syrian foreign minister passes away at 79

Gulf Today Report

A stalwart in the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, who held his job through a decade of conflict and several reshuffles, died on Monday at the age of 79.

The veteran diplomat, who had been foreign minister since 2006, started his career in the diplomatic service in 1964. There were no details on the cause of his death.

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A source close to the Syrian government said it was widely expected his deputy, veteran diplomat Faisal Mekdad, would replace him as foreign minister.

In 2012, a year after Syria's deadly conflict started, he was also made deputy prime minister.

The government announcement did not specify the cause of his death but his health was understood to be deteriorating for some time.

Walid Muallem attends the international conference on Iraq in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. File/Reuters

His last public appearance was at the end of last week in Damascus for the opening of a conference on refugee returns. He looked weak and was helped into the hall by two men.

In press conferences, he was known for his mocking stances against the West, which he accused of conspiring to start Syria's conflict.

Moalem held a succession of top diplomatic posts, including envoy to the United States and was involved in unsuccessful negotiations with Israel in the 1990s on a peace settlement.

 “He was known for his honourable patriotic positions,” the government said in a statement, adding he died at dawn and would be buried later on Monday in Damascus.