Syrian President Bashar al Assad was among the guests at the opening of the Asian Games in China as his state's diplomatic relations appear to continue growing internationally. Waving alongside his wife Asma al Assad - who is a British citizen - the Syrian dictator was making his first trip to China since 2004 to announce a strategic partnership with the country. Since Mr Assad's crackdown on pro-democracy protests led to civil war in 2011, half a million people have died and more than half of the country's 22 million pre-war population have fled their homes.
