Bassel al - Assad continued his climb to the top ; at the time of the 1991 presidential referendum , citizens were ordered to sing songs praising him .
About this time , rumors spread that Assad planned to make Bassel his successor .
Bassel al - Assad continued Assad 's climb to the top ; at the time of the 1991 presidential referendum , citizens were ordered to sing songs praising him .
About this time , rumors spread that Assad planned to make Bassel his successor .