abor: 5% of labor force

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Syrian Arab Republic

_#_Type: republic; under leftwing military regime since March 1963

_#_Capital: Damascus

_#_Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat,
singular--muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al
Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda, Dara, Dayr az Zawr,
Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq,
Tartus

_#_Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under
French administration); formerly United Arab Republic

_#_Constitution: 13 March 1973

_#_Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special
religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

_#_National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)

_#_Executive branch: president, three vice presidents, prime minister,
three deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial
Council, Court of Cassation, State Security Courts

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February
1971); Vice Presidents Abd al-Halim KHADDAM, Rifat al-ASAD, and
Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November
1987);
Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984);
Deputy Prime Minister Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981);
Deputy Prime Minister Mahmud QADDUR (since NA May 1985)

_#_Political parties and leaders: ruling party is the Arab Socialist
Resurrectionist (Bath) Party;
the Progressive National Front is dominated by Bathists but includes
independents and members of the Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP),
Arab Socialist Union (ASU),
Syrian Communist Party (SCP),
Arab Socialist Unionist Movement, and
Democratic Socialist Union Party

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18

_#_Elections:

President--last held 10-11 February 1985 (next to be held February
1992);
results--President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected without opposition;

People's Council--last held 22-23 May 1990 (next to be
held May 1994);
results--Bath 53.6%, ASU 3.2%, SCP 3.2%, Arab Socialist Unionist
Movement 2.8%, ASP 2%, Democratic Socialist Union Party 1.6%,
independents 33.6%;
seats--(250 total) Bath 134, ASU 8, SCP 8,
Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 7, ASP 5, Democratic Socialist Union
Party 4, independents 84