Aflaq, Michel (1910-1989): Syrian political leader and founder of Baath Party. He was born in Damascus and studied at the University of Paris between 1929 and 1934. In 1946, he established Al-Baath Arab Socialist Party, based on the themes of unity, freedom and socialism. The party began to play a major role in Syrian politics in the mid-1950s and in 1958 it supported the merger of Syrian and Egypt to form the United Arab Republic (UAR). Alliance with the Egyptian President Nasser of the UAR began to weaken when Nasser reduced the influence of Baath in Syria. In 1961 the UAR collapsed, and Aflaq's Baath led the opposition to the so-called secessionist regime. In 1963, the Baath came to power with a bloodless coup. Aflaq held unity talks with Nasser and the newly established Baathist government of Iraq. The talks reached a deadlock, and relations with Egypt worsened. In 1966, the right-wing factions of al-Baath Party took over the Syrian government, and Aflaq was forced to leave the country. He died in Paris, France on June 32, 1989, and was buried in Baghdad, Iraq.