live from london, this is bbc news. syrian rebels are hearing down on the capital damascus from the north and south, amid little resistance from president assad's forces. state media denied reports that president assad had fled the city where protesters appear to have toppled a statue of the president's late father. south korea's opposition fails in its effort to impeach president yoon suk yeol for his short—lived declaration of martial law. iam i am live outside the notre dame cathedral in paris where after five years after the fire that ravaged much of the cathedral, the opening ceremony is about to begin. world leaders have gathered in paris ahead of the ceremony including president—elect trump of the united states and president zelensky over ukraine, who both

met president macron earlier. hello, i'm martine croxall. breaking news from syria, where the situation is developing rapidly. with one group of rebels claiming to have reached the suburbs of damascus in what they describe as the "final stage" of their offensive, the syrian state news agency is denying reports president bashar al—assad has left the city, insisting he is carrying out his work from damascus. but in pictures obtained by the news agency afp, which the bbc has verified, protestors can be seen toppling a bust of the president's father hafez al—asad in president's square in the damascus neighbourhood ofjaramana, about ten kilometres from the centre. the rebel group advanced rapidly on the capital after snatching the southern province of daraa from government control. these latest pictures show rebels driving in a seized military vehicle in the region of daraa. news agency reuters says other rebels from hts have advanced from the north and are inside the third city of homs with the syrian army, loyal to president assad, simply falling away. the news agency reuters reports around 2,000 syrian troops, many wounded, have crossed the border into iraq and sought refuge.

reuters reports around 2,000 syrian troops, many wounded, have crossed the border into iraq and sought refuge. with more on this, our correspondent hugo bachega is in antakia, on the turkish—syria border. the speed with which this offensive by rebels has been advancing in syria has caught everybody by surprise, has stunned everybody, because now we are watching what's happening in homs, which is the third largest city. and this is a crucial city, because if the rebels manage to seize this city, essentially the capital damascus is isolated from the rest of the country. so the syrian military is now redeploying from other parts of the country to try to defend positions in homs. we are getting reports of intense fighting in some

parts of the city and also to fortify positions around the capital, damascus, because rebels from this group say that the goal of this operation is to topple the regime of president bashar al—assad. but elsewhere in the country, fighters are also making gains. in the south, the city of daraa has been now seized by rebels. this is extremely symbolic, because this is where anti—government protests erupted in 2011, protests that were brutally oppressed by the regime of president assad. and also in the east of the country, the main city there, has been now captured by the rebels. the entire eastern region of the country is essentially now under the control of the opposition. so significant gains are happening across the country. but the key city to watch here is, again, homs, where rebels are saying they are making progress there in the fight

against government forces. they are urging forces loyal to the president to defect. and again, we're seeing that the syrian military has been unable to stop this progress, but also unwilling to stop the rebels. there have been reports of defections across the country, soldiers abandoning their positions. fawaz gerges is professor of international relations at london school of economics and has been monitoring the situation in syria. it's really very alarming what's happening. just to give your viewers a glimpse of what's happening on the ground, the rebels or the opposition are trying to lay siege to damascus. they're coming from multiple angles. from the golan heights, from, uh, central syria. uh, there are reports that, uh, the rebels and or the opposition

are fighting fierce battles in homs, syria. syria seems to be descending into chaos and violence. battles in homs. syria seems to be descending into chaos and violence. uh, many communities, religious and ethnic communities are taking arms into their own hands. many armed syrian army units are folding. we have very credible reports that 2,000 syrian army units basically have crossed into iraq and asked for asylum or protection. the reality is, i mean, most of our news are coming from the opposition. the question for me is really, where is assad? missing in action. where is the leadership? you hardly hear anything from the top leadership of syria. i speak to many syrians, and they are basically lost. they say, look, we don't know what's happening. they're terrified. they're anxious. the reality is, on the opposition side, you have

abu mohammad al—julani. he's the chief of the hayat tahrir al—sham, the salafi sunni movement, who is basically having a victory tour in aleppo and hama and going on television, including, you know, cnn. yet assad has been really absent. and this tells you a great deal about psychological warfare. it seems to me that the opposition has already won, because they have really won the psychological warfare against the regime itself. and the syrian army does not really seem to be standing up and defending many of its territories, whether in hama or in, uh, deir ez—zor or suweida or on the iraqi syrian border, or even the syrian, the jordanian syrian syria. most of syria's borders now have been captured by either the opposition or even some local communities who are opposed to assad. how likely is it that president assad could backtrack from this?

could could put the situation back to where it was just two weeks ago, because this happened so immensely fast, hasn't it? it's really, it's shocking. the swift and the stunning advance of the opposition, both the islamist opposition and the nationalist syrian army opposition. and it's really shocking how stunning how syrian army units have fallen, have been crushed. and what this really tells you is that the state capacity, the syrian state capacity has been gutted. it has been degraded by years of poverty, corruption, sanctions, attacks by israel. and of course, syria's allies are nowhere to be seen. your, uh, just before i came on air, one of your guests was saying that hezbollah and iran will provide support. it's nonsense.

even if iran and hezbollah want to provide support, israel will not allow them to do so. israel has been basically bombing the crossing between lebanon and syria, and also preventing any iranian aeroplane from reaching the syrian borders. and russia is deeply occupied, preoccupied in ukraine. in fact, russia is seeking north korean boots on the ground. so you can imagine, um, russia hasjust a small air contingent. at the end of the day, there's a race against time between diplomacy. as you know, there was a major meeting in doha today. russia, turkey, iran and the qataris, they're trying to find a political solution. but i think turkey is really being the most cunning in all of this. they realise that the battlefield and they realise that the balance, the military balance of, of power is really basically, it will determine ultimately

what's happening in syria. and they want assad out. they want assad to surrender. let's ta ke let's take you back to paris where we have just seen presidents zelensky, president—elect trump and president—elect trump and president macron leaving the palace after having talks together. emmanuel macron welcomed them both to the palace ahead of the reopening of the notre dame cathedral which takes place a little bit later. it is mr trump was my first overseas trip since he won the election last month. he was a0 minutes late but they had a big hug and a strong country outside the palace when he arrived. speaking briefly to reporters ahead of the talks with resident macron, mr trump

praised the strong relationship between the two countries saying that they would discuss the present geographical uncertainty in the world. you might recall it was a tense relationship last time mr trump was in power. he said it is an honour to be here, we had a good time together, a lot of success, really great success working together on defence and fence too. it certainly seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking all about that. he also referenced the situation in syria where rebels have been closing in on the capital damascus and also the third city of homs capital damascus and also the third city of horns and president trump was my view is it's not a friendly state to the united states and they will not be getting involved. we should not go near it, he said.

let's go live now to maryam moshiri in paris. important optics, two presidents and the president—elect meeting at the palace. president-elect meeting at the alace. �* , ,., , president-elect meeting at the alace. �* , ., palace. absolutely and interesting _ palace. absolutely and interesting given - palace. absolutely and interesting given the i palace. absolutely and - interesting given the rhetoric that has come from president—elect trump with regards to the war in russia, i guess that is the one thing playing on the minds of many european leaders, probably one of the reasons president macron, who i think was one of the first leaders to congratulate president trump on the phone after his election victory so i guess that is why key is practising this diplomacy ahead of the president taking up his role in january. that moment of the three of them in the photograph was significant given as i mentioned earlier the stance on

russia but also given the fact president zelensky has himself in recent times been on the offensive in the united states hoping that a trump presidency will not make a massive difference to the amount of support ukraine has been getting in its war with russia. tonight is not necessarily about these three countries. you can see the photograph i'm talking about. tonight is about france and in particular the reopening of this cathedral. the beating heart, the centre of french religion, french the republic and indeed french culture. those three men will bejoining a host of culture. those three men will be joining a host of others as you can seizure. the live pictures we are seeing from in front of the cathedral. they will be celebrating the reopening of notre dame after that awful fire of 2019. hundreds of dignitaries, french politicians, and indeed

royalty, prince william the prince of wales, will also be in attendance and we understand he will meet with president—elect trump at some point during the ceremony which is understandable. if i can possibly bring in my guest. an english new testament scholar. it is good to talk to you. as we watch the beginnings of this... arrivals for the opening ceremony. could i bring you back to talk about the significance of notre dame in terms of the catholic church? thanks for having me. it is a

significant moment for the cathedral fire significant moment for the cathedralfire five significant moment for the cathedral fire five years ago did not seem possible we would be here today — did not seem possible we would be here today and _ did not seem possible we would be here today and i _ did not seem possible we would be here today and i think- did not seem possible we would be here today and i thinkjust i be here today and i thinkjust the smell of attendees really speaks — the smell of attendees really speaks to the importance of this cathedral in the history of france. it was almost 1000 years— of france. it was almost 1000 years old~ _ of france. it was almost 1000 years old. it is seen the coronation of emperors, it is a really— coronation of emperors, it is a really significant space for it is also — really significant space for it is also a _ really significant space for it is also a site of political diplomacy as we're seeing right now _ diplomacy as we're seeing right now it — diplomacy as we're seeing right now. it really is the heart of the — now. it really is the heart of the city _ now. it really is the heart of the city where the roads begin and it— the city where the roads begin and it is— the city where the roads begin and it is the foundation for catholicism in this country. tell— catholicism in this country. tell me _ catholicism in this country. tell me about these gatherings because this reopening will have representatives from every parish in france and in that way you mention the weight bring bringing global leaders together, we saw the picture of

the president of ukraine president macron and president—elect trump, it is key in bringing together the world in terms of global religion but also global significance.— religion but also global sianificance. . , significance. that is exactly ri . ht. significance. that is exactly right- this _ significance. that is exactly right. this gathering - significance. that is exactly right. this gathering of- right. this gathering of political leaders is not unique notre — political leaders is not unique notre dame. this is where napoleon was crowned emperor. this is— napoleon was crowned emperor. this is where many of the french_ this is where many of the french republic presidents received their funerals. when paris — received their funerals. when paris was _ received their funerals. when paris was liberated from german occupation at the end of world war ii — occupation at the end of world war ii this was celebrated at notre — war ii this was celebrated at notre dame and so we can see it as this _ notre dame and so we can see it as this kind — notre dame and so we can see it as this kind of religious centre _ as this kind of religious centre but also a political huh _ centre but also a political hub. there is something really unique — hub. there is something really unique about gathering so many world _ unique about gathering so many world leaders to celebrate the kind of— world leaders to celebrate the kind of reopening of a cathedral. we have never really seen _ cathedral. we have never really seen anything like it before. for the _ seen anything like it before. for the presence of funerals,

but for— for the presence of funerals, but for a _ for the presence of funerals, but for a church, a religious organisation, this is really distinctive and that speaks of a long — distinctive and that speaks of a long history of notre dame as this kind — a long history of notre dame as this kind of centre of religiousness but also a social space. — religiousness but also a social space, a — religiousness but also a social space, a place where people come — space, a place where people come and meet a fair important, the political history of france is celebrated. victories over foreign _ is celebrated. victories over foreign powers and also the new political— foreign powers and also the new political areas which is exactly _ political areas which is exactly like with napoleon. as ou exactly like with napoleon. you were exactly like with napoleon. is you were talking, we saw the french prime minister michel barnier and his wife, greeting arrivals for the ceremony. we know around 50 heads of state in government are expected to attend the ceremony. we also know that many donations were made from around the world to

help rebuild the cathedral in the image of the cathedral as it was before the fire. i want to at this point bring in another guest. joining me now is lindy grant, professor emeritus of mediaeval history university of reading, author of several books on the history, culture and architecture of france in the 12th and 13th century. let me ask you about the history of the building of the architecture. all of those elements were key in the way in which this project has been undertaken in the last five years. undertaken in the last five ears. , , ., , years. yes, the building was built between _ years. yes, the building was built between about - years. yes, the building was built between about 1160 - years. yes, the building was| built between about 1160 and 1260 — built between about 1160 and 1260 and _ built between about 1160 and 1260. and very _ built between about 1160 and 1260. and very magnificent l built between about 1160 and - 1260. and very magnificent when it was— 1260. and very magnificent when

it was begun _ 1260. and very magnificent when it was begun it— 1260. and very magnificent when it was begun. it was _ 1260. and very magnificent when it was begun. it was the - it was begun. it was the tallest _ it was begun. it was the tallest church— it was begun. it was the tallest church and - it was begun. it was the. tallest church and people it was begun. it was the - tallest church and people were very impressed. _ tallest church and people were very impressed. people - tallest church and people were very impressed. people said . very impressed. people said this was— very impressed. people said this was the _ very impressed. people said this was the most _ very impressed. people said this was the most beautifull this was the most beautiful building _ this was the most beautiful building north _ this was the most beautiful building north of— this was the most beautiful building north of the - this was the most beautiful building north of the alps. i this was the most beautiful. building north of the alps. it took — building north of the alps. it took... hello? _ building north of the alps. it took... hello? yes, - building north of the alps. it took... hello? yes, i- building north of the alps. it took... hello? yes, lam- took... hello? yes, lam getting— took... hello? yes, lam getting a— took... hello? yes, lam getting a very _ took... hello? yes, lam getting a very bad... - took... hello? yes, lam. getting a very bad... echo. took... hello? yes, lam- getting a very bad... echo. i’m“ getting a very bad... echo. i'm so sorry. _ getting a very bad... echo. i'm so sorry. we — getting a very bad... echo. i'm so sorry, we cannot _ getting a very bad... echo. so sorry, we cannot hear the echo, if you can put up with it we would love to speak to you. 0k. ., , ., ., , ok. you were explaining to us about the _ ok. you were explaining to us about the way _ ok. you were explaining to us about the way in _ ok. you were explaining to us about the way in which - ok. you were explaining to us about the way in which the - about the way in which the significance of the different elements of architecture and building play into what we see today? building play into what we see toda ? . . building play into what we see toda ? , . .,. building play into what we see toda ? , . ., today? yes and in fact, a tremendous _ today? yes and in fact, a tremendous amount, - today? yes and in fact, a |

tremendous amount, you suggested _ tremendous amount, you suggested the _ tremendous amount, you suggested the building i tremendous amount, you i suggested the building was almost _ suggested the building was almost rebuilt _ suggested the building was almost rebuilt after- suggested the building was almost rebuilt after the - suggested the building wasl almost rebuilt after the fire. it almost rebuilt after the fire. it has — almost rebuilt after the fire. it has been _ almost rebuilt after the fire. it has been very— almost rebuilt after the fire. it has been very carefully. it has been very carefully restored _ it has been very carefully restored but _ it has been very carefully restored but what - it has been very carefully restored but what burnt. it has been very carefully. restored but what burnt was it has been very carefully- restored but what burnt was the great _ restored but what burnt was the great wooden _ restored but what burnt was the great wooden roof— restored but what burnt was the great wooden roof above - restored but what burnt was the great wooden roof above the - great wooden roof above the vaults — great wooden roof above the vaults and _ great wooden roof above the vaults and almost _ great wooden roof above the vaults and almost more - great wooden roof above the vaults and almost more than great wooden roof above the - vaults and almost more than the building — vaults and almost more than the building itself, _ vaults and almost more than the building itself, some _ vaults and almost more than the building itself, some of- vaults and almost more than the building itself, some of the - building itself, some of the vauits— building itself, some of the vaults collapsed _ building itself, some of the vaults collapsed because i building itself, some of the. vaults collapsed because the great — vaults collapsed because the great spire _ vaults collapsed because the great spire which _ vaults collapsed because the great spire which was - vaults collapsed because the great spire which was a - vaults collapsed because thej great spire which was a huge 19th-century_ great spire which was a huge 19th—century cast—iron - great spire which was a huge i 19th—century cast—iron object, that— 19th—century cast—iron object, that collapsed _ 19th—century cast—iron object, that collapsed and _ 19th—century cast—iron object, that collapsed and brought - 19th—century cast—iron object, i that collapsed and brought down some _ that collapsed and brought down some of— that collapsed and brought down some of the _ that collapsed and brought down some of the volts _ that collapsed and brought down some of the volts with _ that collapsed and brought down some of the volts with it. - that collapsed and brought down some of the volts with it. but. some of the volts with it. but a lot — some of the volts with it. but a lot of— some of the volts with it. but a lot of the _ some of the volts with it. but a lot of the stonework- some of the volts with it. butl a lot of the stonework in many ways _ a lot of the stonework in many ways was _ a lot of the stonework in many ways was all— a lot of the stonework in many ways was all right _ a lot of the stonework in many ways was all right and - a lot of the stonework in many ways was all right and for - ways was all right and for instance. _ ways was all right and for instance, the _ ways was all right and for instance, the great- ways was all right and for instance, the great rosel instance, the great rose windows _ instance, the great rose windows we _ instance, the great rose windows we have - instance, the great rose windows we have just. instance, the great rose . windows we have just seen instance, the great rose - windows we have just seen one on the — windows we have just seen one on the images _ windows we have just seen one on the images there, _ windows we have just seen one on the images there, the - windows we have just seen one on the images there, the three j on the images there, the three rose _ on the images there, the three rose windows _ on the images there, the three rose windows at _ on the images there, the three rose windows at the _ on the images there, the three rose windows at the west, - on the images there, the three i rose windows at the west, north west— rose windows at the west, north west and — rose windows at the west, north west and the _ rose windows at the west, north west and the south, _ rose windows at the west, north west and the south, those - rose windows at the west, north west and the south, those still. west and the south, those still have _ west and the south, those still have their— west and the south, those still have their original— west and the south, those still have their original glass - west and the south, those still have their original glass in - have their original glass in them _ have their original glass in them which _ have their original glass in them which a _ have their original glass in them which a lot - have their original glass in them which a lot of- have their original glass in them which a lot of 13th i them which a lot of 13th century— them which a lot of 13th century glass—

them which a lot of 13th century glass and - them which a lot of 13th century glass and thosej them which a lot of 13th - century glass and those were unharmed _ century glass and those were unharmed by— century glass and those were unharmed by miraculously. unharmed by miraculously unharmed _ unharmed by miraculously unharmed in— unharmed by miraculously unharmed in the - unharmed by miraculously unharmed in the fire. - unharmed by miraculously unharmed in the fire. buti unharmed by miraculously. unharmed in the fire. but of course — unharmed in the fire. but of course the _ unharmed in the fire. but of course the roof— unharmed in the fire. but of course the roof had - unharmed in the fire. but of course the roof had to - unharmed in the fire. but of course the roof had to be i course the roof had to be rebuilt. _ course the roof had to be rebuilt, the _ course the roof had to be rebuilt, the upper- course the roof had to be rebuilt, the upper walls i course the roof had to be . rebuilt, the upper walls had course the roof had to be - rebuilt, the upper walls had to be rebuilt _ rebuilt, the upper walls had to be rebuilt. the _ rebuilt, the upper walls had to be rebuilt. the whole - rebuilt, the upper walls had to be rebuilt. the whole thing - rebuilt, the upper walls had tol be rebuilt. the whole thing was covered — be rebuilt. the whole thing was covered in— be rebuilt. the whole thing was covered in a _ be rebuilt. the whole thing was covered in a sort _ be rebuilt. the whole thing was covered in a sort of— be rebuilt. the whole thing was covered in a sort of thick- covered in a sort of thick layer— covered in a sort of thick layer of— covered in a sort of thick layer of lead _ covered in a sort of thick layer of lead dust- covered in a sort of thick layer of lead dust whichl covered in a sort of thick. layer of lead dust which had covered in a sort of thick- layer of lead dust which had to be cleaned _ layer of lead dust which had to be cleaned off— layer of lead dust which had to be cleaned off very _ layer of lead dust which had to be cleaned off very carefully. i be cleaned off very carefully. now — be cleaned off very carefully. now we _ be cleaned off very carefully. now we see _ be cleaned off very carefully. now we see this _ be cleaned off very carefully. now we see this interior- be cleaned off very carefully. i now we see this interior which isjust— now we see this interior which isjust exquisite _ now we see this interior which is just exquisite where - now we see this interior which is just exquisite where you - now we see this interior whichj is just exquisite where you can see the — is just exquisite where you can see the original— is just exquisite where you can see the original stone... - see the original stone... beautiful. _ see the original stone... beautiful, beautiful-