The Syrian President, Dr Bashar al-Assad, and his British-born first lady, Ms Asma al-Akhras, are the proud parents of a baby boy, reports Michael Jansen. Although the baby was born on December 4th, no official announcement has, so far, been made in the Syrian media although Syrian diplomatic missions have been notified.
The couple, who met while Dr Assad was completing his residency as an eye specialist at St Mary's Hospital, London, were married in Damascus on January 1st of this year. Ms Akhras was born in London in 1975 into a prosperous family of Syrian origin.
Her father is a consultant cardiologist with an exclusive Harley Street practice, her mother a former Syrian consul. After graduating in computer science from Kings College, London, Ms Akhras worked at the US investment bank, J.P. Morgan.