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Syrianhistory.com Archive
The coup d'etat of August 1949 was launched by General Sami al-Hinnawi who arrested Zaim and Hinnawi and executed them, over the treason of Antune Saadeh, president of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP). Zaim and Hinnawi had given him safe haven in Syria then betrayed him to Lebanon, where he was executed by Prime Minister Riad al-Sulh. The Hinnawi coup was the second in Syria since March 1949. Hinnawi never assumed presidential office, but rather, gave power to the civilians who elected Hashem al-Atasi president. Hinnawi himself was toppled and arrested in December 1949.