Syria in depth

Syrians were pulling the bullet-ridden bodies of compatriots from the streets Tuesday, a day after a brutal government crackdown.

The growing popular revolt against Syrian President Bashar Assad, which has claimed more than 300 lives so far, has thrust him and his country into the international spotlight.

Here are some fast facts about this Middle Eastern country.

Ethnicity

– Arab: 93%

– Kurds, Armenians and others: 9.7%

Religion

– Sunni Muslim: 74%

– Other Muslim (including Alawite, Druze): 16%

– Christian: 10%

– Jewish: Very small communities in various cities including Damascus

Language

– Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Circassian

Government

– The Baath Party seized power 48 years ago and has governed under emergency laws and banned all opposition ever since.

Throughout his 11-year reign, Bashar al-Assad, 45, has been accused of corruption and brutality.

Al-Assad is a British-trained eye doctor and was expected to be a pioneer of reform when he assumed power following the death of his autocratic father.

Four years ago, Assad won a referendum that gave him a second seven-year term as president. It was considered a sham by the international community.

Syria has become Iran’s staunchest ally in the past decade.

Syria has been accused of involvement in the assassination of Lebanese statesmen Rafik al-Hariri, whom many believed would be less inclined to meet the demands of the Syrian government.

Though Assad has denied involvement the incident further strained relations between Syria and much of the international community.