bashar al—assad. the hunt for syria's hidden prisoners. rescuers search for secret underground cells — scenes of torture and execution under the assad regime. thousands of syrians queue to return to their country from neighbouring lebanon and jordan where many had been exiled. the opposition flag is raised at the syrian embassy in moscow. russia confirms it's given bashar al assad and his family political asylum. rapperjay—z is accused of raping a 13—year—old girl. he's named with sean �*diddy�* combs in a civil lawsuit. both deny the claim. the musical emilia perez tops the golden globes nominations

for the 2025 awards. hello, i'm annita mcveigh, welcome to verified live. syrian rebels say they are working towards forming a transitional government, a day after they captured the capital damascus and ousted president bashar al—assad. reports say a figure from hts, the main islamist faction,— will be appointed as the interim prime minister. president assad's prime minister, mohammed ghazi al—jalali, says he's assisting with the transfer of power. the rebels say their forces have established order over almost all of damascus, with fighters occupying public buildings. syrians have been pouring back into the country in their thousands from neighbouring lebanon and jordan where many had been exiled. some are making short trips to check the situation in their villages, but lebanon has made it harderfor syrian nationals to re—enter.

rescuers from the white helmets civil defence group are searching for hidden underground floors at sudnaya prison where opponents of president assad were tortured and killed. fighters freed more than 3,500 prisoners at the notorious site on sunday. but it's thought some secretly detained people may still be there. ourfirst report this hour is from our middle east correspondent, hugo bachega. the rebels got rid of the regime but now it is time to free the people who had been detained by them. this is the prison near damascus, nicknamed human slaughterhouse. that is what people were tortured and murdered. fighters arrived in the capital, they went there

almost immediate. this video shows the moment when women were freed and a child was found in one of the cells. the search is now under way for people believed to be hidden underground. syrians woke up to the start of a new era. the first day without the assad regime in five decades. in damascus, streets were largely empty. there is hope for the future but also uncertainty. translation: we future but also uncertainty. translation:— future but also uncertainty. translation: ~ ., ,. , translation: we cannot describe our happiness. _ translation: we cannot describe our happiness, we _ translation: we cannot describe our happiness, we waited - translation: we cannot describe our happiness, we waited for - our happiness, we waited for this mode for 50 years. all of the syrian people were oppressed, we couldn't speak any words because of the oppression and now we thank everyone who comes repeated to this day. the liberation day. the astonishing overthrowing was led by an islamist group. they have a balance passed but say they have changed and want to build a syria for everyone.

with the redeemer toppled, thousands of syrians are trying to go back home. this morning there were long queues at this crossing point between syria and turkey, which hosts more than 3 million syrian refugees. the war in syria was a0 by different groups with different goals and with the involvement of different players. in central syria, us forces carried out dozens of air strikes targeting the islamic state group. in the south, israel sent tanks into a demon tries to buffer zone saying it wants to prevent a spill—over of the conflict. russian state media says assad and his family have now been granted asylum in russia on he monetary and grounds. the kremlin described this as a personal decision of president putin but did not want to say where assad is. in moscow, the opposition flag was raised at the syrian embassy. syrians are celebrating being free of assad but the road ahead is far from free of assad but the road

ahead is farfrom clear. 0ur middle east correspondent lina sinjab is in the syrian capital damascus. she joined us to talk about the formation of a coalition government. this is the second day after the toppling of assad's power, and life is getting back to some sort of normality in damascus. we are in a rather important square in the city, power, and life is getting back to some sort of because this behind me is the central bank. this is one of the most important buildings to be protected, and you can see in the distance the rebels are around the bank, trying to protect it. we have seen them in other locations also, the hts has sent its forces to many government buildings, to avoid the scenes of yesterday, of looting and are raking through government buildings, and maintaining order. and in this square, if you look around, you can see that it is all civilians moving

around the city, they feel safe about it, and in the distance, we have seen that some cafes have opened and in other areas, we have seen where the markets are, were the food shops have opened, bakeries have opened, so people are taking baby steps towards going back to normal life, after receiving lots of assurances from the leader of the opposition yesterday, that they are going to provide safety, stability and prosperity for syria, that will include all syrians. let's cross live now to our bbc arabic let's speak to aymenn jawad al tamimi. he is researcher on syria and jihadist groups and has visited syria several times during the civil war. let's begin by talking about this group, hts, which has

spearheaded the toppling of assad. everyone very keen to understand more about this group. 0nce understand more about this group. once an affiliate of al-qaeda, they say they are a nationalist force. has there been an ideal logical transition there? , transition there? yes, there has been — transition there? yes, there has been and _ transition there? yes, there has been and i _ transition there? yes, there has been and i logical- has been and i logical transition in forming the group and the breaking of the tie with al-qaeda which is quite a serious issue because then it means that he does not have allegiance to al-qaeda leader who is in held up in iran or wherever. that was a very, al-qaeda was very happy about that breaking of ties but then more specifically, the biggest change that has happened is that the leadership has already entered the group's regime towards syria as a nation state within the nation state order and is now talking about, and in my view, sincere, not envisioning this idea of syria as the stepping stone for going

and attacking other countries. it is nothing like the islamic state or al-qaeda's vision of what order should look like, which is a canopy which brings together muslim nations. what which is a canopy which brings together muslim nations. what a drover that _ together muslim nations. what a drover that i _ together muslim nations. what a drover that i do _ together muslim nations. what a drover that i do logical _ drover that i do logical transition? i drover that i do logical transition?— drover that i do logical transition? ~ , transition? i think it was his own experience _ transition? i think it was his own experience during - transition? i think it was his own experience during the i transition? i think it was his i own experience during the war and he realised that continuing to associate with al-qaeda's name and brand and its bigger vision was ultimately detrimental to the survival of the insurgency in the long run and also, any realistic prospect of success. what al-qaeda really wanted was him to maintain the intransigence and insist on a series of al-qaeda fillets. now when we look back at what is happened, he jeopardy played his cards right by cutting the ties of al-qaeda. right by cutting the ties of al-anda-_ right by cutting the ties of al-qaeda. ., ., , , al-qaeda. from the way they have operated _ al-qaeda. from the way they have operated in _ al-qaeda. from the way they have operated in the - al-qaeda. from the way they have operated in the north i al-qaeda. from the way they have operated in the north ofj have operated in the north of syria, what can we learn from

that? we have heard they operated a strict sharia law but we have also heard hts contributed to funding for the reconstruction of christian churches so what can we learn from all of that?— from all of that? the hts is a brand of islam _ from all of that? the hts is a brand of islam and _ from all of that? the hts is a brand of islam and has - from all of that? the hts is a brand of islam and has been l brand of islam and has been practised within its strongholds until recently, was very much influenced by islam and socially conservative norms like women covering their hair. but you didn't have this widespread implementation of punishments like cutting off hands of thieves so notoriously associated with groups like as associated with groups like as a mixed age. with regards to minorities, there were issues about in particular confiscate and of property belonging to members of minority communities who are not within the area and including a church that had been closed down but what hts have done to its credit is to actually return at least some

of these properties to their original owners and allow for the reopening of a church that had been close for a number of years. that was actually, whether specifically they gave money to help rebuild it or even elevate is another issue but they have made more concessions to minorities but italy on issues of property having been confiscated so that is positive progress.— is positive progress. beyond hts we know _ is positive progress. beyond hts we know there - is positive progress. beyond hts we know there are - is positive progress. beyond| hts we know there are other opposition groups involved in toppling the assad regime, some of those are secular. are some of those are secular. are some of them jihadist in leaning? 0ne of them jihadist in leaning? one of the issues that actually leads to hts having remained on the terrorism designation is the terrorism designation is the fact that it is incorporated into its ranks although a minority but they are in their ranks some fighter contingents and people from

albania and they might have issues or ambitions or designs that go beyond syria's borders but they don't influence the group's overall political programme. the other, with regard to the others, you have the turkestan party and they talk about wanting to wage jihad and the chinese government with all the other groups are alljust syrian national oriented. d0 groups are alljust syrian national oriented. do you think hts is double _ national oriented. do you think hts is double and _ national oriented. do you think hts is double and enough - national oriented. do you think hts is double and enough to i hts is double and enough to exert control over all of these other opposition groups and certainly anyone who might be interested in a power grab in this situation?— this situation? that is the uncertain _ this situation? that is the uncertain question, - this situation? that is the uncertain question, how. uncertain question, how actually do you now bring this all together, particularly when the insurgent held territories themselves were defective divided between two rival administrations. the hts and

the syrian army group is closely tied to turkey and the syrian intra— government administration so it is a big question of how to bring these altogether and obviously there is another big elephant in the room which is the us backed kurdish lead syrian democratic forces who still control around a third of the country. we forces who still control around a third of the country.- a third of the country. we will be discussing _ a third of the country. we will be discussing that _ a third of the country. we will be discussing that point - a third of the country. we will be discussing that point with l be discussing that point with another guest, i'm sure you could discuss it as well but we are trying to break this company can situation up into sections to allow our audiences to better understand exactly what is going on inside syria. 0ne what is going on inside syria. one final question i have for you, prisoners group from islamic state have been held in a number of cells in syria, as far as you're able to determine, orthey far as you're able to determine, or they still in jail because of course, a number of countries have a big concern about isa exploiting the situation and we have seen hts three prisoners in other

jails but are they looking to do that with iso prisoners as well awkward isps and is actually be a problem for them and what they are trying to do in syria? iii and what they are trying to do in s ria? , ., and what they are trying to do in s ria? ,, ., ,, in syria? if you look at hts are's policies _ in syria? if you look at hts are's policies and - in syria? if you look at hts are's policies and they - in syria? if you look at hts| are's policies and they were looking at governing surroundings, they were very stringent on cracking down on people into the islamic state imprisoning them or killing them. they will not have any interest or on to free prisoners who actually have anything involved in islamic state. and also of course, there are still lots of islamic state prisoners being held also in the north—east so i don't, there won't be an interest in wanting to release those and for those who are foreigners in particular, i am sure there are some who are in prison that were run by the regime, it is going to be a question of

comedy return of those people to their home country or do you actually put them through a fair trial under a new hts led government? a big question of uncertainty. government? a big question of uncertainty-— uncertainty. really, really interesting _ uncertainty. really, really interesting to _ uncertainty. really, really interesting to talk - uncertainty. really, really interesting to talk to - uncertainty. really, really interesting to talk to you, | interesting to talk to you, thank you for your thoughts. we saw so many people queueing to cross the border yesterday, is that flow continuing today? there is a flow in both directions, there was yesterday and there still is a flow in both directions today but now, the more prominent and striking movement is the movement of syrians who are trying to get into lebanon and i don't know if you can see behind me in the dark all the reinforcements by

the lebanese army to deal with the lebanese army to deal with the situation. apparently, of course lebanon is trying to limit the number of syrians it allows in. it has been trying to do that for a long time, even before the downfall of the regime of assad and it is still doing that now. but there are many syrians who have lined up behind this order crossing and have been trying to get into lebanon. lebanon again, there is a neurological as consensus here that lebanon needs to find a way to deal with the burden of so many syrian refugees in the country. this has been a brewing political issue and social issue also for quite a few years and right now, this new movement of syrians into lebanon is causing a challenge for the lebanese security forces and the lebanese army. let me double—check it, you say the more obvious flow today as people coming out of syria into

lebanon, am i correct but that is what you said? yes. tell us about why it is happening in the direction or the greater number in that direction? many --eole number in that direction? many peeple are _ number in that direction? many people are reluctant _ number in that direction? many people are reluctant to - number in that direction? many people are reluctant to talk - number in that direction? many people are reluctant to talk so l people are reluctant to talk so not everybody who comes in is being open about what is happening where they came from and why they are trying to leave syria. the ones we did talk to off—camera, they told us that they are afraid of things that might happen. not running away because of things that did happen, they say they have received reassurances from the main groups which managed to knock down the regime of president assad, we have not seen any acts of violence against people, ordinary people, we have not got any cause to believe that people will be targeted but at the same time, we are afraid of individual acts, we are afraid

of the possibility of chaos and of the possibility of chaos and of crime. it of the possibility of chaos and of crime. , ., ,., of the possibility of chaos and of crime. , ., ., of crime. it is about caution? exactly. _ of crime. it is about caution? exactly. it — of crime. it is about caution? exactly. it is _ of crime. it is about caution? exactly, it is about _ of crime. it is about caution? exactly, it is about caution i of crime. it is about caution? exactly, it is about caution of things to come and we heard thatjust here but in other areas of lebanon where some people have managed to cross illegally into the country and some of them went back after getting even more reassurances from a number of groups inside syria. as you say, there is caution, people don't know how things will work out. also there is caution among syrians who want to go back, very eager to have this longing to back to syria but are reluctant because the need to figure out exactly how they are going to build their lives in assyria. before they commit to leaving lebanon, there is no guarantee whatsoever that they will be able to come back to lebanon even to sort out whatever business they might have to sort out in lebanon before

returning to syria. i very complicated mix of issues facing both syrians and lebanese on both sides of this border as they try to sort out what they need to do during this historic moment of change. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

the syrian embassy staff in russia ? the country that kept bashar al—assad in power ? have raised the flag of the syrian opposition above the building. the reflection of the sea—change in damascus came as russian state media admitted moscow had lost its chief ally in the middle east. the assad family has been granted asylum in the country. at the kremlin s request, the un security council will discuss syria at an emergency meeting today. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg is in moscow. he described russian reaction to what's happening in syria. it's difficult for russia to

sugar—coat what is happening. effectively this is a blow to russia and russia's prestige when you consider the resources, the huge amount of resources that russia poured in to trying to make sure that bashar al—assad stayed in power over the last nine years, the financial resources, political resources and of course military resources. russia intervening in the syrian war in 2015 to shore up assad, sending thousands of troops and russian air power. keep in mind this intervention by russia was driven by russia's desire to project itself as a global power and to establish itself as the key power in the middle east, a power that could speak to all sides. and what have we seen in recent days? we have seen this project, syria, unravelling for

the kremlin in quite dramatic circumstances. so it is a blow and that's reflected by some of their headlines in today's russian papers. 0ne paper, kommersant, said that russia has lost its key ally in the middle east. another paper said the failure of assad's foreign allies to save him is a blow to their reputation. that's a reference to russia as well as iran. i think what we are seeing happening now is the russian papers this morning, a number of messages and a number of talking points are being emphasised, i think in an attempt by the authorities to try and minimise the embarrassment. one of the messages you pick up a lot of in today's russian papers is that this isn't moscow's fault, this is the fault of the assad regime, the syrian authorities and the syrian army that didn't fight hard enough to keep power. the second message that is being pressed through the state media here is that without

moscow's man in control the situation in syria could become more chaotic. the third key message you pick up on is that russians are being told the war in ukraine is much more of a priority now for russia than the war in syria. in other words, these dramatic events in syria don't matter that much. i think the hope is on the part of the authorities that by pressing these messages the russian public will not start to question what has been happening in syria over the last nine years. let's speak to 0ssama muhammad, a journalist in al qamishli — an area controled by syrian kurds in the north east of syria. good to have you with us. as we examine this story, we are looking at very complicated allegiances, sometimes stories of opposing forces so let's begin by expending to our audience who the group known as

the kurds are. they have been a big ally of the us in tackling so—called islamic state, haven't they? so-called islamic state, haven't they?— so-called islamic state, haven't they? so-called islamic state, haven't the ? ,, . haven't they? starting with the kurds, haven't they? starting with the kurds. they — haven't they? starting with the kurds, they have _ haven't they? starting with the kurds, they have established l kurds, they have established the main forces with fighting alongside the international coalition against isis. kurds where the main city which they could defeat isis in this city and then in the international coalition with the support of the local communities and local forces, alongside arabs, christians could defeat isis and eliminate them. the kurds are known by their loyalty with the international coalition, started to work with rival groups in turkey before.

however in 2013, all of this changed over and the rebels turned to be radical islamic groups, so after that, the international coalition started to work with the kurds in northeast assyria and now there is a syrian democratic forces with an alliance with the local forces who are fighting with the international coalition against isis in the region here. ~ ~' ., against isis in the region here. ~ ~ ., ., , here. we know that the kurds are holding — here. we know that the kurds are holding islamic _ here. we know that the kurds are holding islamic state - are holding islamic state prisoners in a number ofjails in the north of syria. we know that hts, this new rebel opposition group that has spearheaded the ousting of assad also take a tough line with islamic state, that much they have in common, but what can you tell us about the relationship then between hts and the kurds?—

and the kurds? that is a good auestion and the kurds? that is a good question actually. _ and the kurds? that is a good question actually. the - and the kurds? that is a good question actually. the kurds l question actually. the kurds have more than 10,000 isis prisoners under their control in the presence. besides that there are two main camps for there are two main camps for the isis women and children there. they still have a lot of people who are in their presence who are considered as jihadists. some of them are isis, too. i don't know if you saw it in social media today or not but there are some islamic fighters who just were on social media today and they were asking openly and publicly to release the jihadists from the prisons. this is between hts and stf. however, there is some kind of talks happening between hts and stf general

command through some channels, mostly about negotiations between the two neighbourhoods in aleppo where the kurds are still based in this neighbourhood. still based in this nei . hbourhood. . still based in this neiuhbourhood. ., ,., neighbourhood. there are so talks between _ neighbourhood. there are so perhaps to be some sort of talks between hts _ neighbourhood. there are so talks between hts and - neighbourhood. there are so talks between hts and the i neighbourhood. there are so i broader coalit hts >vernment in perhaps to be some sort of broader coalit hts and 1ment in perhaps to be some sort of broader coalit hts and the nt in perhaps to be some sort of talks between hts and the sdf, the force that includes the broader coalit hts and the sdf, talks between hts and the sdf, the force that includes the kurdish groups. that is very kurdish groups. that is very interesting to know. my next interesting to know. my next question for you is, given the question for you is, given the half also been fighting turkish half also been fighting turkish backed forces in the north of backed forces in the north of syria, and turkey would be seen syria, and turkey would be seen as closer to hts, the rebel as closer to hts, the rebel forces who have taken damascus forces who have taken damascus and toppled assad, how much and toppled assad, how much scope is there therefor for hts scope is there therefor for hts and the kurds to work together, and the kurds to work together, perhaps to be some sort of perhaps to be some sort of

broader coalition government in broader coalition government in syria going forward? it is a complex situation with different allegiances but we are trying to make sense of it. it is really come picketed and it will depend on a deal and some kind of push by the international community. mostly i am talking about the international coalition to keep their promises and protect their promises and protect their alliance on the ground. and ask turkey to stop any kind of bombing or pushing some other groups, rather than hts, to fight against the kurds and stf in north—east assyria. there was some statement today from the us, some even from the other coalition partners, that they are asking to protect and to not punish or have tolerance with the other minorities in

syria. so i think any kind of deal needs a deal between regional countries and the international coalition should be involved in such a kind of deal to. be involved in such a kind of dealto. from be involved in such a kind of deal to. from what i could see from the leader, he is willing to have peace and try to have channels of discussions with the sdf. the sdf, i think this will depend on the international party. will depend on the international -a . . ~ , .,

high—pressure builds so yes, a frosty start in the highlands of scotland but lovely sunny spells coming through. however we still have some cloud, a brisk easterly wind and some heavy rain across parts of the east midlands. you can see where the isobars are sitting and the direction of that wind, making it feel quite cool at there. showers will continue through the afternoon. this has been the story so far, down through parts of the east midlands and also across the essex and kent coasts. a frequent rash of showers that will make it feel really cold and disappointing. further north and west the cloud will continue to stay well broken. there will be sunshine coming through but there will be a difference in the feel of the weather. light winds here and some sunshine but temperatures are sitting at around a or 5 degrees.

a brisk north—easterly wind here and temperatures peaking at around seven to ten. as we go through the evening and overnight, we are likely to see some showers continuing here, and quite a lot of cloud. under the clearing skies, continuing further north and west, temperatures falling away. a widespread frost with some fog is likely first thing in the morning as temperatures stay well below freezing. a different story further south. still that breeze with us, just pivoting to an easterly direction. that could produce a little bit of drizzle from time to time, maybe some showers along the kent coast as well. fog could be an issue further north and west and with temperatures below freezing, some of it is freezing fog as well. it will gradually lift into the afternoon. that is where we will have the best of the brighter weather. temperatures may struggle in one or two spots to climb above freezing further south once again we are looking at six to 8 degrees, the high. as we move into thursday, we will start to see