 Hashim al-Atassi, head of the National Bloc and briefly president after Sami al-Hinnawi's coup, returned as president and Syria was again under civilian rule.After 1955, Atassi's hold on the country was increasingly shaky.As a result of the 1955 election Atassi was replaced by Shukri al-Quwatli, who was president before Syria's independence from France.