![A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad next to Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmed Hassun and Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi attending prayers on the eve of the anniversary of the birth of Islam's Prophet Mohammed at the al-Hamad mosque in Damascus. [AFP]](/sites/default/files/styles/d08_standard/public/im/iraq/000_Nic6284371.jpg?itok=a0qbBmst "A handout picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad next to Syrian Grand Mufti Ahmed Hassun and Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi attending prayers on the eve of the anniversary of the birth of Islam's Prophet Mohammed at the al-Hamad mosque in Damascus. [AFP]")
President of Syria, Bashar Al Assad made a rare appearance on Sunday in his attendance of prayers at a mosque in the capital Damascus, state television reported.
Assad is rarely seen in public. He has only been spotted out in the open a few times since the Syrian war began in early 2011.
He was shown at the Al Hamad mosque in the capital's northwest for prayers marking the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. Spotted with Assad were several people, to include Syria's top Sunni authority, Mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassun, and Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi.
To date, Assad's last public appearance was on October 15 for prayers at the time marking the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
