Syria's recently ousted leader is Bashar Al-Assad. Syria's capital, Damascus, has been overrun by rebels, and he has reportedly fled the country in recent days.

Following the passing of his father, Hafez al-Assad, who had ruled Syria since 1971, al-Assad has been in power since 2000. There has been much controversy surrounding the Assad administration, and many people are happy that his reign is coming to an end.

Assad spent some time in London prior to becoming the dictator of his nation, when he met his wife, who was born and raised in Ealing.

Assad in London

In 1992, Bashar Al-Assad moved to London to attend the Western Eye Hospital for postgraduate ophthalmology training. He had previously completed his medical studies at Damascus University and worked as an army physician.

Ophthalmology is a specialised surgical profession that treats and diagnoses conditions affecting the eyes. There are few spots and a lot of applicants. His supervisors referred to him as humble when he arrived in London, and nurses felt that he was very comforting to his patients.

His classmates would say that Assad was unassuming and seemingly unaffected by his status as the son of a ruler. In an NBC interview, Neil Quilliam said that Al-Assad was seen as a 'geeky I.T. guy'. Al-Assad was said to have shown no desire or interest to follow into politics in his country, but his older brother's death in 1994 saw him recalled to Syria and prepared to be his father's heir.

His wife

While in London, Assad met Asma Akhras, who would later become his wife. Asma was born to Syrian parents in South Kensington and grew up in Ealing. Her mother worked as a diplomat at the Syrian Embassy in London, while her father was a cardiologist.

She earned a degree in computer science from King's College London. She then worked in the City of London as an investment banker.