Assad interrupts parliament speech due to low blood pressure

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad suffered low blood pressure for a few minutes while delivering a speech to parliament yesterday.

Al-Assad interrupted his speech, which was broadcast some six hours behind schedule on state television, telling legislators he needed to “sit down for a minute” after suffering a drop in blood pressure..

“This was a result of a small drop in blood pressure that Mr President suffered before he resumed his speech normally,” state television said.

The channel gave no further details.

Al-Assad became president in 2000 after the death of his father. His Baath Party once again won a majority in the country’s parliamentary election in July. The win was seen widely as unsurprising and expected through the questionable election process held.

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