Cairo, Feb 26 (IANS) Here is a list of leaders in Middle East and North Africa who have been in power for years:
Libya: Ruled by Muammar Gaddafi who came to power in 1969 after a bloodless coup against the then ailing King Idris. Population: About 6.5 million.
Bahrain: King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah has been in power since 2002 when the country was turned into a constitutional monarchy, paving the way for an elected parliament. But the king has been the supreme authority of Shia-dominated Bahrain since 1971. Population: Over 1.2 million.
Jordan: Ruled by King Abdullah II since 1999 following the death of his father King Hussein, who ruled for 46 years. Population: About 6.5 million
Yemen: President Ali Abdallah Saleh has been in power since 1978. He was re-elected for seven-year term in September 2006. Population: Over 24 million.
Syria: President Bashar al-Assad took power in 2000 after the death of his father Hafez al-Assad, who ruled for 30 years. Population: 22.5 million.
Morocco: King Mohammed VI took over in 1999 following the death of his father King Hassan II, who had been in power since 1961. Population: Around 32.5 million.
Egypt: The country is now administered by the military council after Hosni Mubarak resigned as Egyptian president Feb 11, ending his 30-year rule. Population: About 85 million.
Tunisia: Ruled by Fouad Mebazaa, who was made interim president after Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, who had been in power for the past 23 years, fled Tunisia Jan 14. Population: Over 10 million.
