Abdul Halim Khaddam: Syrian politician (1932-2020)

His Excellency Abdul Halim Khaddam عبدالحليم خدام
Vice President of Syria
In office March 1984 – 6 June 2005
President	Hafez al-Assad Bashar al-Assad
President of Syria
Interim
In office 10 June 2000 – 17 July 2000
Preceded by	Hafez al-Assad
Succeeded by	Bashar al-Assad
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 1970–1984
Preceded by	Mustapha al-Said
Succeeded by	Farouk al-Sharaa
Member of the Regional Command of the Syrian Regional Branch
In office 13 November 1970 – 9 June 2005
Personal details
Born	(1932-09-15)15 September 1932 Baniyas, Syria
Died	31 March 2020(2020-03-31) (aged 87) France
Political party	Syrian Regional Branch of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party (until 2006) National Salvation Front in Syria (2006 onwords)

Khaddam was Vice President of Syria from 1984 to 2005. He was one of the few Sunni Muslims to make it to the top of the Alawite-dominated Syrian leadership. He was long known as a loyalist of Hafez al-Assad, and held a strong position within the Syrian government until he resigned his positions and fled the country in 2005 in protest against certain policies of Hafez's son and successor, Bashar al-Assad.

He served as interim President of Syria from 10 June 2000 to 17 July 2000 when Hafez al-Assad died in June 2000. He was later replaced by Bashar al-Assad.

Khaddam died on 31 March 2020 in France of a heart attack, aged 87.