Syrian PM ready to cooperate with new leadership

DAMASCUS, Dec 08 (AFP/BBC/AP): Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali said Sunday he was ready to "cooperate" with any leadership chosen by the people, after rebels said "tyrant" President Bashar al-Assad had fled the country.

The leader of the Islamist Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, ordered forces not to approach official institutions in Damascus, saying they would remain under the prime minister until they were "officially" handed over.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions have pressed a lightning offensive since November 27, sweeping swathes of the country from government control, including major cities Aleppo, Hama and Homs.

Provinces in the country's south and east have also fallen from government hands after local fighters seized control and Assad's forces withdrew.

The rebels said early Sunday that "the tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled" and declared "the city of Damascus free".

Assad 'resigned' and left

Syria, says Russia

Russia said Sunday that Syria's Bashar al-Assad had resigned from the presidency after talks with the sides involved in the conflict and had left the country, without saying where to.

"As a result of talks between B. Assad and a range of participants of the conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he took the decision to resign from his presidential post and leave the country, giving instructions to proceed with the peaceful transfer of power," Moscow's foreign ministry said. "Russia did not take part in these talks."

'Russia not interested

any longer': Trump

US President-elect Donald Trump attributed the fall of Assad to losing the backing of Russia.

"Assad is gone," he said on his Truth Social platform. "His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer."

His comments followed an earlier statement from National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett that President Joe Biden was keeping a close eye on "extraordinary events" transpiring and remained in constant contact with regional partners.

No-one slept in Syria

Saturday night

Residents in Damascus have told of an anxious wait for news on what was happening in Syria's capital city overnight.

After several hours of reports of rebels getting closer and closer, the forces declared Damascus "free" of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad in the early hours of Sunday.

Unverified videos circulating on social media show people cheering in the streets and welcoming the rebel fighters, as well as inmates being freed from the notorious Saydnaya prison.

"No-one slept in Syria last night... no Syrian abroad slept," Rania Kataf, who runs the Humans of Damascus Facebook page, said. "The whole community was holding their phones waiting for the final news.