syrian rebels declare damascus is free as president assad's more than 50 year regime comes to an end. the bbc�*s barbara plett usher is in damascus as usher is in damascus we came into the city, we saw as we came into the city, we saw equipment beside the road abandoned, tanks, military belittles, even uniforms as she told us their uniforms and joined the population. russia says assad has left the country as rebels appear on state tv saying they've toppled a tyrant and have released his prisoners. syria's prime minister says he will �*cooperate�* with the rebels over a transition of power and that free elections should be held. these are live pictures of the syria lebanon border as thousands try to return to their homes in syria.

hello. more than five decades of authoritarian rule by the assad family have come to an end in syria, after rebels took the capital, damascus, overnight. speaking on state television they said �*the city of damascus has been liberated... assad has been toppled'. the group hayat tahrir al—sham, who have their roots in al-qaeda, have been trying to rebrand themselves as a nationalist force. they say they've freed what they called hundreds of unjustly detained prisoners held injails in syria. within the past few minutes the russian foreign ministry said president assad stepped down and left syria as a result of negotiations with "other participants in the armed conflict" but that russia was not involved in those

negotiations and did not know where he is now. in the past hour fighters have seized control of the presidential palace in damascus. many of the hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled syria for lebanon during the long— running civil war are now attempting to return. crowds have been gathering at border crossings. analysts say the country is now at a crossroads over whether rebel leader, abu mohammad al—jolani, will opt for a path to democracy. our correspondent ba ra ba ra plett—usher has managed to reach the centre of damascys and sent this report. damascus is relatively calm. when we passed through the central square we saw lots of young men shooting guns in the air, rebels and their supporters celebrating their victory of entering damascus. as we came into the city, we saw military equipment beside the road abandoned,

tanks, military vehicles, even uniforms as soldiers took off their uniforms and joined the population. here in this city you can see there are vehicles on the streets, there is traffic. the shops are closed. not that many people, so some people are quite afraid, those who supported the regime had felt protected by it. they are basically staying at home right now. others of course joyful that the regime has fallen, seeing this as a new chapter seeing this as a new chapter in syria's history. in syria's history. what that chapter is what that chapter is is the next question. is the next question. the prime minister has put the prime minister has put out a statement saying out a statement saying that he wants to work that he wants to work for the continuity of for the continuity of government, for the handover government, for the handover of power in a peaceful of power in a peaceful way for elections. way for elections. the leader of the rebels has the leader of the rebels has said that his forces should not said that his forces should not target public institutions, the syrian opposition target public institutions, those are still under those are still under the authority of the prime the authority of the prime minister until they can be minister until they can be handed over officially handed over officially so both of them sending out so both of them sending out messages of reassurance, messages of reassurance, calm rather than chaos calm rather than chaos but things are uncertain but things are uncertain and everyone is waiting to see and everyone is waiting to see what will happen next. what will happen next. barbara plett usher reporting barbara plett usher reporting

from damascus there. from damascus there. with the flag of with the flag of the syrian opposition displayed on his desk, this is how a news anchor on syrian tv, reacted after rebels declared they had taken damascus. translation: in the name of allah, the most gracious, the most merciful. the proud people of our nation, the time has come and the sun of freedom has risen. the time has come to lift the oppression and dispel the darkness overshadowing our beloved country. we are the rightful owners and this land belongs to us. we, the syrian people of all sects, colours we are the rightful owners and this land belongs to us. we, the syrian people of all sects, colours and walks of life, stand united, hand in hand, looking forward to a brighter tomorrow. a future where injustice and tyranny are eradicated. let's speak to dr haid haid, an associate fellow at chatham house.

thank you very much forjoining us. i day of incredible momentum by the rebels who took the capital extraordinary speed which everyone has been taken by surprise by. would you agree? by surprise by. would you auree? ' :: ii' by surprise by. would you airee? ' i i�*m , by surprise by. would you aree?iif , , by surprise by. would you uree'::::f , , by surprise by. would you uree'::::f, agree? 100% but this comes as a series of surprises _ agree? 100% but this comes as a series of surprises which - series of surprises which started almost ten days ago with the fall of aleppo and it became some sort of domino effect that led to the fall

became some sort of domino effect that led to the how much leader of the rebels, how much control do you think he has over the various groups in the country? is this a tight group that he leads or is it made up of many different factions? many different groups operating under that title of hts? hts many different groups operating under that title of hts?- under that title of hts? hts is one unified — under that title of hts? hts is one unified group, _ under that title of hts? hts is one unified group, he - under that title of hts? hts is one unified group, he has - under that title of hts? hts is one unified group, he has full| one unified group, he has full control over that group. however, if you look at fighting that is happening in syria, it started with an offensive that was led by another and other rebel groups. you have also other sort of fighting groups elsewhere in the country. you have the syrian national army, which is backed by turkey, also fighting in north—western syria and then you have a local armed groups who push regime forces out of

their territories. who push regime forces out of theirterritories. now, who push regime forces out of their territories. now, when we talk about control, they have full control over the group and decent control over the group that are fighting alongside it. however, that does not apply to other groups with those who are fighting alongside hts. all those who started their own fight or even in damascus. d0 fight or even in damascus. do ou fight or even in damascus. do you think _ fight or even in damascus. do you think there is an opportunity here for syria to move towards real actions which is what the prime minister hoped for or do you think for a long way from that?— long way from that? there is otential long way from that? there is potential for _ long way from that? there is potential for sure _ long way from that? there is potential for sure that - long way from that? there is potential for sure that what i long way from that? there is| potential for sure that what is happening right now and what comes next in the coming few days will be quite crucial. one of the main challenges is what to do with him and had to

engage and that is the decision that has been discussed right now not only among syrian actors but also among regional and international actors. i think the outcome of that will somewhat shape what comes next. if we are looking at a scenario in which they will be completely sort of isolated and not engaged with them, we could see potentially divisions as well as competition and even may be fighting between that group and the rest of the transition that will try to govern syria. now, if we can imagine a different scenario in which the groups interest might be secured with maybe the participation of directly, we could see a different scenario. a really crucial next few days.

how important will the role of turkey be in trying to ensure some sort of stability of the next few days? i use the term stability. relatively, of course, turkey seems to have a crucial role in this doesn't it? ,, ~ , , ., crucial role in this doesn't it? ,, , ., ., it? sure, turkey is now sort of t in: to it? sure, turkey is now sort of trying to not — it? sure, turkey is now sort of trying to not only _ it? sure, turkey is now sort of trying to not only engage - it? sure, turkey is now sort of trying to not only engage with | trying to not only engage with but negotiate with different local as well as regional and national actors. local as well as regional and nationalactors. but, ithink stella as i said, it's not clear to what extent turkey will be able to maintain that role as well as its influence. the questions we talked about before and not sort of answered in a way that will not only secure his interest but also allow him to play a role in the future. because, ithink allow him to play a role in the future. because, i think many people when they talk about the

relationship between hts and turkey, they either overestimate turkey's influence or underestimate it. it's a complicated relationship and in the end, each has their own interests. when those interests overlap, they cooperate but when they don't, they will be competitive and this is what we have to keep an eye on.- have to keep an eye on. that's really interesting _ have to keep an eye on. that's really interesting point. - really interesting point. whether his interests are the same interests as those of other countries in the regions andindeed other countries in the regions and indeed further afield, that something will explore further but for the moment dr haid haid of chatham house, thank you. will be looking around the region and indeed internationally at reaction to what is happening in syria as events evolve minute by minute. as we've been reporting,

the turkish foreign minister says bashar al assad has probably fled the country. caroline hawley looks back on his rule. bashar al—assad took power in the year 2000, inheriting syria's police state from his father, hafez. the new young president, just 3a at the time, promised reform. and after his inauguration, there was a brief period of greater political openness. but the old family way of ruling soon reasserted itself. power was to have been handed down to bashar�*s elder brother, basel, but when he was killed in a car crash, it was the quieter, somewhat awkward bashar who was next in line. he'd been training as an eye doctor in london when he was called back to syria to prepare for taking over the presidency. with his british—born wife, asma, by his side, president assad at first presented a new image of syria to the world. mrs al—assad, your majesty. the west responded. there was even an audience

with the queen. but the change that so many syrians hoped for at home failed to materialise. and when an uprising against him began in 2011, he responded with tanks in the streets. as accounts of atrocities multiplied, bashar al—assad denied they were taking place, refusing to take responsibility. we don't kill our people. no government in the world kill its people unless it's led by a crazy person. for me as president, i became president because of the public support. it's impossible for anyone in this state to give order to kill. whoever it was that gave the actual orders, bashar al—assad headed a regime that killed too many of its own people to even count with barrel bombs as well as bullets, and also with chemical weapons that are internationally banned. this was the aftermath of an attack with sarin gas on an opposition—held suburb

of the capital in 2013. hundreds of people were killed. the west repeatedly said that bashar al—assad must go. but however sickening the violence, there was no stomach to really take on his regime. he repeatedly said he was merely fighting terrorists. when you shoot, you aim, and when you shoot, when you aim, you aim at terrorists in order to protect civilians. again, if you talk about casualty, that's war. you cannot have war without casualty. there were more chemical attacks and many, many more casualties. but back in 2015, russia had stepped in to turn the tide of the war in bashar al—assad's favour. it was russian airstrikes and support from iran and hezbollah that helped defeat the rebels in aleppo and elsewhere, and led to this moment in 2023, to this moment in 2023. after years of isolation,

president assad at an arab league summit, his regional rehabilitation a symbol of his victory at the time as he was in saudi arabia, the rebels were confined to the northwest of syria. but then came this major offensive by the rebels, who headed first for aleppo, syria's second city, a huge prize that they took over with ease. they went on to capture more and more territory from the assad regime, weakened because the support it had been able to rely on was no longer there. now he's gone, leaving a country deeply scarred by his brutal rule. caroline hawley, bbc news. syrians living in germany are celebrating and the chancellor has welcomed the fall of the

assad regime as good news. at the book from him. jimmy's chancellor and syrians celebrating the news. also, we've heard from president emmanuel macron in france saying that he paid tributes, tributes, to the syrian people and their courage and to their patients say that france will remain committed to those in the middle east. welcoming the news fair in paris and berlin, and we can go to ankara as well. live pictures from turkey of syrians in ankara also celebrating the news that bashar al—assad after 2a years, almost 25 years in power, more than 50 years for the assad family, in total, celebrating the news that bashar al—assad has been toppled. turkey, the

president, who had tried to encourage bashar al—assad to negotiate with opposition groups, he will play a key role likely now in what unfolds in the next few days with many, many questions about what all of this means that the balance of this means that the balance of power in the region. our international editorjoined us. bashar al—assad was preceded by his father. his family have had syria as their private business, in fact a former british ambassador said the best way to understand the assad regime was to watch a mafia movie like the godfather or the tv show the sopranos, in terms of how they operated, but writ large in a country. and they have gone. so, now, because syria

is such a strategic place in the heart of the region, what happens in syria affects all of its neighbours and by extension the wider world. so the question is whether these rebels that are taking over can bejudicious, can they try and promote stability, can they, as they have said, they have said that there should be no revenge against minority groups, but let's see what happens. because what i have just described is, if you like, the good scenario. the bad scenario is something akin to what happened in libya after the fall of gaddafi after the fall of gaddafi in 2011, and saddam hussein in 2011, and saddam hussein in iraq, after 2003, in iraq, after 2003, which was years and years which was years and years of torment and bloodshed of torment and bloodshed and civil war. and civil war. so they have already had that in syria, maybe so they have already had that in syria, maybe of torment and bloodshed frank gardener of torment and bloodshed and civil war. so they have already had and civil war. so they have already had that in syria, maybe that in syria, maybe they have had enough, they have had enough, and they want to move and they want to move to a better place. to a better place. so first and foremost, so first and foremost, let's hope so for the let's hope so for the

sake of all syrians. sake of all syrians. our security correspondent our security correspondent frank gardener has been watching the situation closely and gave me this update. chipped is calling on parties in syria to preserve the good people of the seas of the state and international institutions. that's coming from egypt. the first comments on the situation in syria saying it's following the situation with great care. affirming its support for syrian people and the country's sovereignty and unity.

and from homs in the north to close in on the capital, and it is clear the syrian army had no stomach for this fight, they defected, they surrendered, they retreated, tore off their uniforms, put down their guns and disguised themselves as civilians, this regime has crumbled very quickly indeed. those foreign ministers i mentioned were part of something known as the astana process, as in the meetings that people held in central asia to try and thrash out a political future for syria. bashar al—assad was not interested in talking about any transition of power whatsoever and he has now paid the price. the early signs are quite encouraging that there could be an orderly transition of power. why? because the leader of the main rebel group hts, hay�*at tahrir al—sham, this is somebody called abu mohammed al—jolani,

he has said that we are going to respect minorities, there is not going to be a great big blood—letting and vengeance and so on. but he is only one person at the head of a very large sprawling coalition of rebel groups and there are some pretty hardcorejihadists in amongst them. let's not forget that hts is still a proscribed terrorist organisation, proscribed by the un and by many governments. it is going to have to prove itself in the coming days, weeks and months that it is absolutely true to its word and has left its terrorist roots behind, because people will be because people will be thinking about what happened thinking about what happened in afghanistan when the taliban in afghanistan when the taliban seized the capital kabul seized the capital kabul and the whole country and the whole country and the international community and the international community disappeared. like they were in the past. disappeared. taliban spokespeople taliban spokespeople were going on television were going on television saying nothing to fear, saying nothing to fear, don't worry, we're going don't worry, we're going to respect women's rights, to respect women's rights, we are not like we were we are not like we were in the past. in the past.

and they are exactly and they are exactly like they were in the past. it's been an absolute basket case for human rights and women's rights. so there are any number of ways in which syria could now go down a very dark path, it could go the way of libya with rival factions, armed groups descending into sort of tribal and religious friction. but so far, it is looking quite promising. and the west is largely staying out of it. it's going to be for syria's own people to sort this one out, hopefully with the backing of the united nations and hopefully without too much meddling from outside countries.

they concerned about the risk that syria breaks up and it does not retain borders and is no longer a single sovereign unitary states, it breaks up into its separate parts. that one concern. another concern is what happens to the government of syria, does it become extreme? does it become led by terrorist organisation? according to the delegate here? is there a stable political transition or does this return to the blood—letting that many here in the gulf have seen from syria for many, many years. so, there is a lot of concern and caution. we've heard from a very senior us diplomat this morning from the defence department who has made clear

that us forces that are based in eastern syria will remain there. they are there to combat isis and have been there for many years. he did admit, he accepted that the uncertainty for what is taking place meant the potentially some space could be created for isis to exploit that, to expand their operations in syria, and elsewhere. but, he says the united states forces intends to remain for me there. those are just two concerns. the instability of the state, what they might do, elsewhere people are worried about what impact it may or may not have on syrian refugees. there are many syrian refugees. there are many syrian refugees. there are many syrian refugees around the world, what do they do now? some might return home and if so how? how is that going to be facilitated? there are an awful lot of consequences for these fast—moving events that is not

just what's actually going to happen but what does it mean for the wider region in the world. this whole thing has happened so quickly, without the sort of bloodshed at a scale be seen in the past in syria. it's leaving some people to speculate there is a plan here. there is a proposal along which is a here. there is a proposa