try and pre—emptive really, to try and avoid ice and taken advantage of the confusion that is happening within syria —— russia to try and avoid ice taken advantage of the confusing happening assyria —— with regards to the united states. , , , �* states. this is why i'm surprised _ states. this is why i'm surprised with - states. this is why i'm surprised with the - states. this is why i'm - surprised with the commentary that are coming from uk coveted ministers at the moment. if all of basher al—assad is yes, in one way fantastic but actually, if we say the fall of what happened in libya was fantastic, look at the longer tow implications and the wider implications. it's good why because the way that people thought and they are so many more moving parts in assyria than they were in libya. we are opening a potential can of worms. it is too early to assess where things are going and this is where the us will be very carefully working out where they need to influence

militarily, politically, diplomatically and we are seeing a summer of some of the military intervention at the moment. it is very, very concerning times and this is not a time to celebrate the fall of basher al—assad until we know what is coming next. really interesting to talk to you. thank you so much. former colonel in the british intelligence. thank you. as these pictures show the celebrations of the removal of president hayat tahrir al—sham continued long after nightfall. it is worth noting that the only flags being waved by the serbian nationalflags. there serbian national flags. there are serbian nationalflags. there are no militant islamist symbol is visible and there are many women among the crowd and no one seems to be wearing military or paramilitary uniform which are the rebels were not present in any numbers. our correspondent has beenin

numbers. our correspondent has been in damascus and shortly after the rebels took control she sent us this update. it is she sent us this update. it is a special _ she sent us this update. it is a special day _ she sent us this update. it is a special day for _ she sent us this update. it is a special day for many - she sent us this update. it 3 a special day for many syrians. here it was a day of celebration, of victory. we witnessed, you know, the rebels roaming the streets of damascus. shooting gunfire in the air in celebration. many civilians joined the air in celebration. many civiliansjoined them, civilians joined them, especially in the main square that connects, that enters the city, opens up the city to the rest of the city and so it was like really a mood ofjoy. we have seen, you know, many reports and videos that the rebels also, with civilians, went and liberated many prisons, including the most notorious prison and dug into tunnels to get people out alive and that was, like, overly emotional moment for many syrian families. but elsewhere, as well, we have seen chaotic

scenes of, you know, ordinary syrians breaking into some buildings like the is if consulate and looking furniture. we saw it in the ministry of culture but when i was there, fighters arrived and stopped the lifting operation. soon after we headed to the presidential residency where bashar al—assad and his family used to live and there it was, like, a completely different scene of, like, big polluting. for me it felt like it was a looting technique because families were going in, looking around what they can get. posing for pictures. walking around the garden of this palace. this is an area that was fortified for the past five decades, during the rule of the assad dynasty, that they have never seen before. so they

broke into it. took whatever they can. posed for pictures. a scene that also was stopped at the end of our visit by rebel fighters from h who arrived to regain control of the situation.— regain control of the situation. �* , ., ~ ., situation. as we talked about earlier, daily _ situation. as we talked about earlier, daily life _ situation. as we talked about earlier, daily life in _ earlier, daily life in damascus, that is, you know, the government buildings, banks, schools, you told me that has all come to a halt. are there any signs that that could potentially all start moving back again in the coming hours or days?— hours or days? well, as i mentioned, _ hours or days? well, as i mentioned, you - hours or days? well, as i mentioned, you know, i hours or days? well, as i l mentioned, you know, this hours or days? well, as i - mentioned, you know, this is the first day, people woke up with the news division is toppled. the former president bashar al—assad left the country. so everyone is really cautious. shops are closed. people are mainly staying home except, like, if you were out and about celebrating. but we are now almost at midnight in

damascus time. so the early hours of the morning will tell us how the day will go. if business will go back to normal. if the government institutions are going to open and operate as they used to be. i think this week or the coming few days of going to be, you know, cautiously, moving cautiously, monitoring how things are going to unfold. the opposition are talking about forming a government. he was going to be in charge of the government? and then asking the former government to continue in charge as a caretaker government until things are clear. but also to maintain the safety and stability in collaboration with the rebel fighters so the coming few days, i would say, 24—48 are also crucial to clarify how things are going to move forward. things are going to move forward-— forward. and finally, of course. _ forward. and finally, of course. you _ forward. and finally, of course, you yourself. forward. and finally, of| course, you yourself are

forward. and finally, of - course, you yourself are syrian and you have come into syria into damascus to report for the bbc today. how do you feel about what you have seen on this day?— this day? really, this is really exceptional - this day? really, this is really exceptional and l this day? really, this is - really exceptional and quite emotionalfor me, seeing really exceptional and quite emotional for me, seeing fellow syrians and hearing their stories. there was a woman who approached us in tears. most of herfamily were killed in prison so the amount of stories that i've heard over the years, reporting on syria, the torture, the loss, the despair. and suddenly to see this surge of hope, surge of happiness, surge of energy, not only given damascus but from syrians all over the world. and for me also, this is the place that i connect to. this is the place that i belong to. i've been outside syria for nearly 11 years, since i was forced to leave in 2013. and i neverfelt

i belonged anywhere. i always felt that i was uprooted, trying to find a way in my life and for the first in years, i felt i belong again.- felt i belong again. our correspondent - felt i belong again. our correspondent in - felt i belong again. our correspondent in damascus. he was a security correspondent. syria is at a crossroads. everything now depends on hts. that is the main rebel group that has ousted assad because this could go either way. a successful transition to a democracy of sorts or a descent into chaos. the words of their leader here are encouraging. he says he wants a government for all syrians. so is that really what is going to happen? fin syrians. so is that really what is going to happen?— syrians. so is that really what is going to happen? on the one hand they _ is going to happen? on the one hand they have _ is going to happen? on the one hand they have been _ is going to happen? on the one hand they have been trying - is going to happen? on the one hand they have been trying to l hand they have been trying to project — hand they have been trying to project a _ hand they have been trying to

project a moderate and my moderate image of themselves and for— moderate image of themselves and for their rule, for the purpose _ and for their rule, for the purpose of winning over the local— purpose of winning over the local population as well as the international community. but on the other— international community. but on the other hand, they are really also _ the other hand, they are really also tried — the other hand, they are really also tried to hold onto the islamist— also tried to hold onto the islamist character and roots. in islamist character and roots. in the — islamist character and roots. in the one _ islamist character and roots. in the one hand, because that is how— in the one hand, because that is how they started but also to make — is how they started but also to make sure that they do not antagonise the hardliners in rebel— antagonise the hardliners in rebel held areas as well as in hts's— rebel held areas as well as in hts's own _ rebel held areas as well as in hts's own ranks.— rebel held areas as well as in hts's own ranks. the main rebel u-rou hts's own ranks. the main rebel group does _ hts's own ranks. the main rebel group does have _ hts's own ranks. the main rebel group does have a _ hts's own ranks. the main rebel group does have a murky - hts's own ranks. the main rebel group does have a murky past. l group does have a murky past. and 2016 was linked to qaeda and are still a prescribed terrorist group by many governments. the dark red on this map shows how they burst out of their northwest stronghold to come south. that is the dotted line. and take damascus. the orange and yellow areas are other smaller rebel groups. the purple is the kurds end up on the coast, the pink area, shows the heartland. that

assad's from a power base. as if this was not complicated enough already you've also got the outside nations. russia and iran have just lost another lie in bashar al—assad. they will be looking to salvage their interest in the new uncharted syria. frank gardner there with analysis. one of the most striking images to emerge today was the arrival at the city masque of the rebel leader. this is the moment he arrived at the building, surrounded by cheering supporters. he prayed and also made a speech. 0ur correspondent was inside the mask. so little of his report which was filed earlier and arabic and translated. here's my a0 saw. arabic and translated. here's my 40 sava— arabic and translated. here's m 40 saw. . ., . , . my 40 saw. the leader of hayat tahnr my 40 saw. the leader of hayat tahrir al-sham _ my 40 saw. the leader of hayat tahrir al-sham in _ my 40 saw. the leader of hayat tahrir al-sham in damascus. i tahrir al—sham in damascus. hours after taking control of

the syrian capital. we found out he is touring the historical landmarks and a short while ago he was in the square to thank god in a prayer. and he will now head inside the mask, the city's distinctive monument. —— make the a historic moment in every sense of the word. he was here for the first time in the great since taking control and ousting the president. figs since taking control and ousting the president. as we have been — ousting the president. as we have been hearing _ ousting the president. as we have been hearing here, - ousting the president. as we i have been hearing here, russia has played a huge part in what

has played a huge part in what has happened. the press in moscow has confirmed that he has sought asylum in russia and been accepted. earlier we spoke to anna borshchevskaya, a fellow at the washington institute and author of "putin's war in syria: russian foreign policy and the price of america's absence". she told us she isn't surprised assad is now reported to be in moscow. this was coming. russia was his main backer but the main question now going forward is what is going to happen to russia's influence in syria and syria itself? and what is going to happen, do you think? what is interesting is that, on the one hand, assad's file is a huge blow to put in's prestige and that is undeniable. but at the same time we are trying to see russia trying to position

itself in this post assad syria. and that means that the story of russian syria is not yet over. the question is, what is that going to look like and what does the international community going to do to ensure that there is a proper political process taking place in syria, that the transition is really towards democracy and towards peace? russia, for its part, was never genuinely interested in peace. in syria or elsewhere. and frankly, now is a great opportunity to ensure that russia loses. it is a question of whether or not that message has really sunk in. �* ., , that message has really sunk in. , that message has really sunk in. and of course russia is still in syria. _ in. and of course russia is still in syria. it _ in. and of course russia is still in syria. it still - in. and of course russia is still in syria. it still has i still in syria. it still has two military bases there which it relies on in terms of its influence in the region. i wonder what we think is going to happen to those bases and whether russia is willing to move forward with these rebel forces, with the opposition working with them in the same

way or a working with them in the same way ora similar working with them in the same way or a similar way?— way or a similar way? russia has already _ way or a similar way? russia has already signalled - way or a similar way? russia has already signalled it - way or a similar way? russia has already signalled it is . has already signalled it is willing to work with opposition voices. what is interesting is that russian state tv, it seems, stopped referring to anti—assad as a terrorist. it was reported that russian bases have received security guarantees of remember, russia's involvement in syria was not about syria and it was certainly not about assad even though they fought to save him. it was really about russia's influence in a cell. russia positioning itself in opposition to the west and again, while this was a big blow to putting's prestige, russia is clearly fighting for influence and that is something we need to watch going forward. and we all know that putin can't stand any blow to his prestige so how does he get that back, do you think, from the situation?— the situation? well, specifically, - the situation? well, specifically, with - the situation? well, i specifically, with syria, it the situation? well, - specifically, with syria, it is clear he is trying to position russia in the most advantageous way. he's probably going to try to position himself as a

mediator but i think what would be important to what is what is going to happen with ukraine as well. and whether or not there are going to be any attempts to make some kind a deal on ukraine which would disadvantage ukraine, and therefore free up russia to use more resources elsewhere. a potentially look for other flashpoints were put in could use an escalation tactic to signal that he is still here, that he is still able to make things complicated for us, which is his usual modus operandi. usually tries to blackmail us into scaring us into concessions.— blackmail us into scaring us into concessions. and in the meantime. _ into concessions. and in the meantime, bashar- into concessions. and in the meantime, bashar al-assad into concessions. and in the i meantime, bashar al-assad is in meantime, bashar al—assad is in moscow, he is in russia. going forward, what does this mean? you think you will stay there indefinitely? what you think russia would do with him? it is unclear at _ russia would do with him? it is unclear at this _ russia would do with him? it 3 unclear at this stage. i really don't know. they... also, i don't know. they... also, i don't think a certain he can't go back to syria unless he is going to go back to prison. that should be something that

the discussion about assad should take place in the future but i think the bottom line is they still offered him asylum. they still offered him protection. the assad family controlled syria with an iron fist, for 53 years. president bashar al—assad took power in 2000, after his father had been in control since the 1970s. jeremy bowen, has more on the family dynasty, that was once all powerful, and ruthless against its enemeies. hayat tahrir al—sham inherited the regime when his father died in 2000. 30 blood the regime when his father died in 2000.30 blood since the regime when his father died in 2000. 30 blood since seizing power, he jailed anyone who threatened his will. after he buried him, syrians hoped bashar al—assad, trained as a doctor in london, would reform and modernise the country. so did tony blair, and other western leaders, there went to

damascus in 2001. a year later, bashar al—assad and his wife, who grew up in london, paid a call on the queen. assad never delivered change and even when thousands and then millions of syrians demanded the fall of the regime after 2011, the year of the arab uprisings, he might still have saved the country for more by embracing reform. but instead of that, bashar al—assad went to his rubber—stamp parliament in march 2011 to save foreigners were conspiring to destroy syria and effectively declared war on any syrian who opposed him. in the first few years of the war, we were able to cross into the large rebel held areas of the damascus suburbs, from the regime side. the rebels were in range of central damascus but could never break through. the regime survived

though years because some syrian supported it in damascus. these were from the same sect as the assad family. despite the loyalty, ten also needed iran and the fighters of lebanese hezbollah. syrian christian militias fought for the regime against al-qaeda rebels in the ancient town in 2013. augmenting the syrian arab army. for some syrians, especially minorities, it seemed like a choice between assad and the jihadist killers of islamic state and other extremist groups. by august 2013, losing ground, assad used chemical weapons against rebel held suburbs of damascus. it was a turning point in the war. the americans backed down from a threat to bomb the regime. the russians, sensing an opportunity, intervened to save it. and assad believed he had made the americans blinken

first. in february 2015, i had an exclusive interview with bashar al—assad. an exclusive interview with basharal—assad. i an exclusive interview with bashar al—assad. i asked an exclusive interview with bashar al—assad. iasked him about bombing civilians. he was defiant, denied it and even tried a joke. you don't deny that your forces tried a joke. you don't deny that yourforces using tried a joke. you don't deny that your forces using them? bullets, missiles and bombs. i haven't heard of an army using cooking pots. haven't heard of an army using cooking pots-— cooking pots. large barrels followed project _ cooking pots. large barrels followed project has - cooking pots. large barrels. followed project has dropped from helicopters and exploded with devastating effects. there's been a lot of testimony about these things. we there's been a lot of testimony about these things.— about these things. we have bombs, missiles _ about these things. we have bombs, missiles and - about these things. we have | bombs, missiles and bullets. about these things. we have i bombs, missiles and bullets. a year later, the russian air force had flattened the side of aleppo, held by rebels, a display of destructive power that sharpened president putting's appetite to absorb ukraine. a , putting's appetite to absorb ukraine. , ., putting's appetite to absorb ukraine. , , ., ukraine. many of the rebels who lived here and _ ukraine. many of the rebels who lived here and in _ ukraine. many of the rebels who lived here and in other _ lived here and in other enclaves were permitted to leave for a different province. they the fighting force that has finally destroyed the assad

regime. in saudi arabia, last year, basharal—assad regime. in saudi arabia, last year, bashar al—assad was embraced by the crown prince, the most powerful arab leader, and we have netted to the arab league. assad repeated the regime's would boast that syria was the beating heart of arabism. he was hoping that rehabilitation would seal his victory. instead, when the rebels pushed out of it the region, his regime collapsed in less than a fortnight. region, his regime collapsed in less than a fortnight. potentially one of the winner's from assad's downfall is turkey. sinan, nonresident senior fellow on turkey, foundation for defense of democracies, and expert on turkish domestic policy and foreign policy, told me what he thinks turkey might be looking to do next. turkey has basically come full circle and, since 2012, you know, the president has had a big sort of interest in

removing assad from power. and right now i think they've got their sights set on two major things. one of which is essentially the internal repatriation of syrian refugees inside of turkey back to syria. between three and 4 million. and on the tail end of that really keen on essentially preventing the formation of the kurdish state along turkey's southern body which would occupy, essentially, so we're �*s northern sort of area, which is currently an zone. 50 's northern sort of area, which is currently an zone.— is currently an zone. so let's take those — is currently an zone. so let's take those things _ is currently an zone. so let's take those things one i is currently an zone. so let's take those things one at i is currently an zone. so let's take those things one at a i take those things one at a time. though syrians who are refugees in turkey, how likely is it that they are going to get this mass return into syria, given the uncertainty within syrian right now in terms of its future?- within syrian right now in terms of its future? that is a treat terms of its future? that is a great question. _ terms of its future? that is a great question. i _ terms of its future? that is a great question. i mean, i terms of its future? that is a great question. i mean, who| great question. i mean, who knows? when you have to or 4 million refugees inside of a country such as turkey, a lot of them have been there for a long time and some of actually been born there and set up lives there. i understand there is a lot of resistance and better sense to actually go back to a country from which

they had to flee for their lives. it also from the perspective of anyone there, basically, look, there are links not only to al-qaeda but also rooted in historical roots to the islamic state which are disavowed from. you'd have to ask yourself the question but what extent do they feel safe going back to a state entity which may or may not be governed by an organisation thatis governed by an organisation that is still widely considered to be a terrorist institution tjy to be a terrorist institution by many nations as well as the united nations. a difficult decision to make.- united nations. a difficult decision to make. you mention turkey in _ decision to make. you mention turkey in terms _ decision to make. you mention turkey in terms of _ decision to make. you mention turkey in terms of what - decision to make. you mention turkey in terms of what it i turkey in terms of what it thinks about the kurdish entity is in syria. how difficult is it to balance that, given those entities and relationships with international players like the united states?— international players like the united states? again, i think it is very difficult. _ united states? again, i think it is very difficult. there i it is very difficult. there have been a widespread sort of, i would say, reasonably accurate supporting suggesting that... and if that is the

case, well, you would think that he might have some sort of control over the outcome of what happens and what kind of state does it become. do not necessarily sure he is in a position to control that because hts may have different goals of sort of aspirations as to what they do with the states next. as far as the syrian kurds are concerned, that is very difficult. they are backed by the united states and right now the pentagon announced date is carried out of 70 air against islamic state targets which seem to has begun the process of resurgence and if it is targeted by turkey, as it has been over the past several years, that is going to cause a problem. and all eyes are essentially on what turkey does in its positioning towards kurds and how the code sort of position themselves against sort of hts, other rebels. they have been reported of fighting. where will that lead question might wejust don't where will that lead question might we just don't know at this point so it is all up in the airand very this point so it is all up in the air and very fluid at the moment. the air and very fluid at the moment-—

the air and very fluid at the moment. , ., moment. on the sidelining of russia brings _ moment. on the sidelining of russia brings turkey - moment. on the sidelining of russia brings turkey to i moment. on the sidelining of russia brings turkey to the i russia brings turkey to the fore in terms of its role as a player in the region now. what is it going to do with that role, do you think? well, yes, i aaree role, do you think? well, yes, i agree to _ role, do you think? well, yes, i agree to a — role, do you think? well, yes, i agree to a point. _ role, do you think? well, yes, i agree to a point. russia i role, do you think? well, yes, i agree to a point. russia has| i agree to a point. russia has been sidelined but the other part of the equation, as far as turkey and russia is concerned, turkey and russia is concerned, turkey is heavily indebted and heavily dependent on russia. a not so sure turkey can act independently or contrary to russian views no matter how we week pressure is. it is tied to rushin week pressure is. it is tied to rush in terms of natural gas needs to about 40%. russia is building turkey's entire nuclear power capability. it relies on russia for agricultural trade so, you know, president putin has had the opportunity and demonstrated the opportunity to take punitive action against turkey in the past so i think, you know, we have to be temperate about how many options turkey has in order to act for the independent of russian concerns. even that of iranian concerns, i would say.

but yes, the overall point taken is, you know, everyone seems to be in a position to say the least. syrians around the world have been celebrating the fall of assad. here you can see syrian refugees celebrating in the streets of erbil, a city in neighbouring iraq. there were also celebrations in the streets of tripoli in lebanon. and hundreds of syrians living in turkey were dancing and cheering in istanbul. syrians further afield in europe also took to the streets to share in the excitment. here you can see london's trafalgar square. there was also jubilation amongst this group of syrians in paris. and there was dancing and cheering in the streets of berlin too. let's hear now from some of the people who took part translation: may peace prevail in syria so that we can rebuild i

it into a modern and more beautiful country than before, without assad and his allies. translation: many friends have died, unfortunately. _ many friends are on the run. we are syrians. we are spread all over the world, everywhere. we all hope to be back in syria as we were before 2011 and even before. translation: i hope that a government will be i formed that grants rights to all syrians, regardless j of nationality or language — arabs, kurds, yazidis and i zoroastrians. i hope that a good i ruler will be appointed to lead the country. translation: to tell the truth, my joy is indescribable. - my brothers are imprisoned along with my friends and relatives. at the moment, i am waiting for them to be released from prison in peace, so that the joy can be full and a new syria can begin without killing and without war, and so that the people can return to their homes and live

together as before. thousands of homes are without power and with all the rain that fell over the weekend. the vein to the background remain saturated. dozens of flood warning still in place and force around the country. hopefully those numbers will go down as we head into the new week thanks to high pressure which will build and paint dry weather, very much—needed dry weather, very much—needed dry weather to our shores for will turn colder with overnight frost and fog making a return. high pressure toppling into the north of the uk to start the new weeks on monday, cold, frosty but light winds across scotland and northern ireland. mist and fog around. as a move across england and wales were still got the remnants of what was the storms are still quite breezy, fresh north—easterly breeze. showers down to watch the channel islands. a bit of

sunshine breaking through here and there but it will stay breezy, much lighter winds across the north where we start off very cold and frosty. temperatures struggling to get above 304 and four in a few spots in scotland. 0therwise above 304 and four in a few spots in scotland. otherwise it is 79 celsius and factor in the north—easterly breeze, it will feel quite raw. monday night, we see cloud continuing. streaming enough the north sea with a few showers running through the channel. that will stop. temperatures are below two or seven celsius. a cold night to come for scotland and northern ireland. some freezing fog. into tuesday, that area of high pressure begins to exert its voice across the country. a cold, frosty start in the north. plenty of sunshine. early mist and freezing fog. more cloud for england and wales. the bees beginning to ease. still a feature through the channel. may be the odd shower but mostly dry at this point but could be grey and gloomy in the south. another

chilly day to come. cold in the north and struggling to get above freezing in parts of scotland. an area of high pressure dominates the scene. a few weather fronts spinning around it, and by the time we reach fide into next week and it looks like low pressure will start to move into areas of the atlantic. much of the week will stay dry. cloudy in the north, sunny in the south and it will remain cold for all of us.

live from washington. this is bbc news syrian rebels declare damascus is free — as people take to the streets to celebrate the end of the assad regime. you can hear the sound of celebratory gunfire. people are driving around in their cars. they are giving me peace signs. they are saying life is going to be so much better now that bashar al—assad is gone. syria's former president, bashar al—assad, is reportedly in moscow — claiming asylum from key ally russia. western leaders welcome the end of assad's rule, but warn of uncertainty to come. we begin the programme with our continuing coverage of developments in syria. russian state media announced sunday that the country's former president bashar al—assad and his family are in moscow.

they are also said to have been granted political asylum.