Delegates at Syria's ruling Ba'ath party congress on Tuesday said Abdul Halim Khaddam, the country's vice-president, had expressed his intention to resign from his position and from the party. The move signals that Bashar al-Assad, the president, is seeking to consolidate his grip on power.

Several other members of the regional command, the Syrian party's highest ruling body, are expected to announce their resignation in the four-day congress that started on Monday, the first since Mr Assad succeeded his father Hafez in 2000.