very much the sense that they are still in the dark grip of the past and that the horrors of the past have to be dealt with if they want to move forward. there is a curfew from five in the evening until five in the morning, but before that, in the centre of the city it was still very much a second day of celebrations. vladimir putin had invested - heavily in assad, determined to keep him in power, but in the end it wasn't enough. i but what to do about hts when they are a prescribed terrorist organisation? on the panel... leslie vinjamuri, director of the us and americas programme at chatham house and lord peter ricketts, former uk national security advisor.

and now the headlines... the leader of the main islamist rebel group in syria has met the former prime minister to coordinate the transfer of power, a day after president bashar al—assad fled to russia. the insurgents have issued an amnesty for syrian army conscripts. thousands of syrians exiled in lebanon and jordan have been returning home. it comes as turkey's president says he's reopening a border gate with syria to aid the voluntary return of millions of syrian migrants. us police are questioning a man in connection with the murder of the health insurance chief executive, brian thompson, in new york. luigi mangione was arrested in a mcdonald's in pennsylvania after a customer reported spotting someone who matched the description of the main suspect. chancellor rachel reeves has

told finance leaders in brussels that closer relations between the uk and the european union will boost economic growth. it's the first address by a british chancellor to the eurogroup since brexit. we begin in syria where one of the bloodiest conflicts of the 21st century is over. but the big question now is — what comes next? this was damascus as crowds continue celebrating the fall of bashar al assad. but in the cold light of day, when the celebrations go quiet — how will the country emerge from the shadow of a 50—year mohammad al—jolani, the rebel leader who masterminded the lightening offensive has met the former prime minister to coordinate the transfer of power. but that victory comes with caveats. the un — which is holding an emergency meeting on the situation — has warned the next few

weeks are critical. but first — the view from the ground inside syria. translation: we are very happy after the fall of bashar al assad. may god rid us of him forever. i'm not afraid to say it. we're very happy and we are working without fear and with a good conscience. we are living now the second independence and the date of the 8th of december will be immortal. this great and glorious day is a new independence day of syria. this is the first time in my entire life - that i can stand - here in this square. i'm 60 years old and this is. the first time i've stood here. people are getting - delirious with happiness. our middle east correspondent lina sinjab is in damascus. this is the second day after the toppling of assad's power, and life is getting back to some sort of normality here in damascus. we are in another important square in this city because this behind me is the central bank.

this one of the most important buildings to be protected. and you can see in the distance the rebels are stretched at the bank trying to protect it. we've seen them in other locations too. the hts, hayat tahrir al—sham, have sent its forces to many government buildings so that they can avoid the scenes of yesterday, of looting and breaking through government buildings and maintain order. and in this square, if you look around, you can see that all civilians are, you know, touring around the city. they feel safe about it. in the distance, we've seen some cafes have opened, and in other areas we've seen where the markets are, where the food shops are, bakeries have opened, food shops 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, ahmed al—shara, that they are going to provide safety, stability and prosperity for a syria that will include all syrians. but the un has already sounded a warning — they're concerned about the continuing risk of violence. hostilities are reportedly ongoing in some parts of syria, including in the north east. it is really important, imperative, in fact, that all parties abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law. all measures must be taken to ensure the protection of all minorities, and to avert reprisals and acts of revenge. let's get the thoughts of our panel. leslie vinjamuri, director of the us and americas programme at chatham house and lord peter ricketts, former uk national security advisor. plenty of time to get into lots of the details. first of all your reflections on where the country stands right now? it is country stands right now? it is an extraordinary _

country stands right now? it 3 an extraordinary thing to watch, so many have watched the civil war since 2011, i think people had given up hope and they thought it was a frozen conflict, and as uncertain as it is at the moment, and obviously there will be a struggle for power, and grave concerns by many international actors and certainly by the us, about the possibility for terrorism, but it is so important to remember the true devastation. syria shone a light on the failure of the west to have any real influence over a devastating civil war with more than 600,000 brutally killed, and many people oppressed since then, so the turmoil and uncertainty and unpredictability as we watch the weeks ahead are unsurprising and need to be managed. it will be a fraught

time but the transition, again, nobody saw this coming, and it is a very significant moment. and your thoughts on where syria stands right now? we all have to hepe _ syria stands right now? we all have to hope that _ syria stands right now? we all have to hope that the - syria stands right now? we all have to hope that the syrian i have to hope that the syrian people — have to hope that the syrian people cannot last experience some — people cannot last experience some stability and respect. they— some stability and respect. they have known nothing but 50 years _ they have known nothing but 50 years of— they have known nothing but 50 years of assad family dictatorship, and we have to hope — dictatorship, and we have to hope that this moment turns out well but — hope that this moment turns out well but it— hope that this moment turns out well but it is a moment of danger— well but it is a moment of danger as well as hope, and we have _ danger as well as hope, and we have seen— danger as well as hope, and we have seen in previous uprisings, like in egypt when they— uprisings, like in egypt when they toppled mubarak in 2011, they toppled mubarak in 2011, the period ofjubilation, that does — the period ofjubilation, that does not _ the period ofjubilation, that does not last very long until all the — does not last very long until all the problems begin crowding again _ all the problems begin crowding again. there are certainly problems and hts is one of severel— problems and hts is one of several groups who have participated in the downfall of the assad family but they have no experience of governing and there _ no experience of governing and there is— no experience of governing and there is little administrative stale — there is little administrative

state in _ there is little administrative state in syria and the place is awash — state in syria and the place is awash with weapons and it is vital— awash with weapons and it is vital that— awash with weapons and it is vital that the international players _ vital that the international players get in quickly behind these — players get in quickly behind these groups and help them to form _ these groups and help them to form an— these groups and help them to form an inclusive stable way of governing _ form an inclusive stable way of governing syria. because within weeks. — governing syria. because within weeks. if— governing syria. because within weeks, if that does not happen, i see _ weeks, if that does not happen, i see a _ weeks, if that does not happen, i see a separatist tendency will— i see a separatist tendency will come to the fore and individual groups will try to carve — individual groups will try to carve out their own areas, like the turkish _ carve out their own areas, like the turkish backed syrian army in the — the turkish backed syrian army in the north, so this is a moment— in the north, so this is a moment for the international community to get on with it. it is awkward that the uk and others _ is awkward that the uk and others have proscribed hts as a terrorist — others have proscribed hts as a terrorist organisation which precludes them from any dealings with this group and i think— dealings with this group and i think they should look again at that very— think they should look again at that very quickly and provided there — that very quickly and provided there is— that very quickly and provided there is enough evidence that abu mohammed al—jolani is looking _ abu mohammed al—jolani is looking to move towards a more inclusive — looking to move towards a more inclusive syria, that those restrictions are taken away so that— restrictions are taken away so that the — restrictions are taken away so that the groups get the support they need in the early stages. we will— they need in the early stages. we will look at some of those issues in a moment but for the

moment to both of you, thanks forjoining us. international reaction to the fast moving events in syria has been coming in — as the rest of the world reacts to the dramatic events of the last few days. the united nations security council is holding an emergency session to discuss the fall of president bashar al—assad's regime. it's been requested by president his former ally, russia. president biden is reported to have discussed the current situation with king abdullah ofjordan. while the us secretary of state — antony blinken — has also weighed in — saying washington has a clear interest in avoiding the fragmentation of syria. isis will try to use this period to re—establish its capabilities, to create safe havens. as our precision strikes over the weekend demonstrate, we are determined not to let that happen and will continue to protect our personnel against any threats from any quarters. meanwhile, the uk's foreign secretary — bashar al—assad as a monster — saying his downfall was a humiliation for russia and iran. but he also stressed that the toppling of his regime

will bring its own risks. 0ur revulsion of assad, his henchmen, and those who propped him up must not blind us to the risks of this moment. assad's demise brings no guarantee of peace. this is a moment of danger as well as opportunity for syrians and for the region. earlier cabinet minister pat mcfadden earlier told the bbc that the uk could look at removing the syrian rebel group hayat tahrir al—sham from the list of banned terrorist groups. but the prime minsiter has pushed back on that suggestion. take a listen. no decision is pending at all on this. it is far too early. at the moment the focus has to be on talking to our allies, making sure that this is an opportunity for syria, and therefore we have to work to make sure that it's

a peaceful opportunity. turkey's top diplomat called for engagement with the the new government in syria and asked the united nations to help make that happen. translation: we expect international actors to reach out to the syrian people and support the establishment of an inclusive administration. we desire a syria in which different ethnic and religious groups live in peace. a new syria that will have good relations with its neighbours and bring peace and stability to the region. the head of nato mark rutte has said in a statement that he hopes for a "peaceful transition of power and an inclusive syrian—led political process . before adding that russia and iran were the main backers of the assad regime, and they share the responsibility for the crimes committed against the syrian people. and in russia — the kremlin said discussions will be held with syria's new administration on the future of their military bases in the country.

spokesman dmitry peskov said the decision to grant bashar al—assad and his family asylum was made personally by vladimir putin. so what do people in moscow make of it all — let's take a look. translation: the man simply had no other choice. it could have ended up badly for him if he remained in his country. perhaps he didn't have any supporters left. the only option for him was to flee. otherwise, he would have shared the fate of gadafi, who had been very brutally killed. listen, whatever my country is doing is right. i can't comment differently. i entirely agree with everything because i live here. we can't dump our friends. syrian media reports say israeli warplanes have carried out dozens of attacks across the country, including on damascus. a research centre suspected of links to chemical weapons production was among the sites hit. these pictures show the smoke and fire rise following airstrikes on the outskirts of the city of homs. israel says it's acting to stop such weapons falling

into the hands of extremists. they also say they will keep a limited troop presence in a buffer zone inside syria, where un peacekeepers are based. the foreign minister described this as a limited and temporary step — saying israel was not interested in meddling in syrian affairs. let's go back to our panellists. leslie vinjamuri, director of the us and americas programme at chatham house and lord peter ricketts, former uk national security advisor. we had a quick go through the international reaction there, so let's start with the us, and your assessment of their reaction and what calculations it will be making a stop it did not come at a worse time for lie not come at a worse time for us leadership because it is a country in transition and donald trump said on twitter yesterday it is very important that the us and the

international outside states did not get involved. president biden is trying hard to minimise the risk of isis taking on new power and influence but again, an outgoing president, and even in the best of times this is not a situation that the west and the international actors have been able to deal with very effectively, and there is a real question as to who can work to build the kind of coalition that can study syria in what will be a very tall order, and it is difficult to see in this moment of transition the us being able to play that role without a lot of leadership from many other actors. �* , ., actors. let's get the view from westminster. _ actors. let's get the view from westminster. lord _ actors. let's get the view from westminster. lord ricketts, i westminster. lord ricketts, what do you think the assessment is being made right now by the uk government? these international _ now by the uk government? these international leaders _ now by the uk government? these

international leaders are _ international leaders are saying _ international leaders are saying the same thing and everyone wants to see a peaceful stable transition, and that is— peaceful stable transition, and that is fine but words are not enough _ that is fine but words are not enough. early action is needed to get— enough. early action is needed to get alongside the various actors, _ to get alongside the various actors, and there are a number of different insurgent groups who have come together to achieve _ who have come together to achieve this, and there isn't much — achieve this, and there isn't much time. you might be a fleeting _ much time. you might be a fleeting moment of opportunity so i think the uk government needs— so i think the uk government needs to _ so i think the uk government needs to talk to those with influence, americans and other europeans, france in particular with— europeans, france in particular with a — europeans, france in particular with a large interest in lebanon, but also the countries in the _ lebanon, but also the countries in the region and it was a good thing _ in the region and it was a good thing that— in the region and it was a good thing that keir starmer is in the middle east at the moment, because — the middle east at the moment, because the uae and saudi arabia _ because the uae and saudi arabia have influenced there, and the — arabia have influenced there, and the israelis are not hanging about. they are going straight — hanging about. they are going straight into military action against _ straight into military action against the weapons dumps and the possible chemical weapons and trying to neutralise them before — and trying to neutralise them before isis or other radical groups— before isis or other radical groups can get their hands on then — groups can get their hands on them. israelfeels groups can get their hands on them. israel feels itself under

threat — them. israel feels itself under threat this evening because uncertainty and chaos in syria if that — uncertainty and chaos in syria if that happened, would not be in their— if that happened, would not be in their interests. it is a moment— in their interests. it is a moment to do more than talking with lining up support in these early— with lining up support in these early fragile days before the groups — early fragile days before the groups as they are emerging trving — groups as they are emerging trying to— groups as they are emerging trying to take control of the country which has no tradition of being ruled in the interest of being ruled in the interest of its own people, to make sure it moves in a positive direction,— it moves in a positive direction, . , direction, and remember, the arab spring — direction, and remember, the arab spring in _ direction, and remember, the arab spring in egypt - direction, and remember, the arab spring in egypt and - direction, and remember, thel arab spring in egypt and libya, that was— arab spring in egypt and libya, that was not happy, and this is very— that was not happy, and this is very nruch— that was not happy, and this is very much now on a knife edge and it— very much now on a knife edge and it could go either way. thank— and it could go either way. thank you both. back with you both in a moment. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

more on the siuation in syria, this has been sent from our correspondent lucy williamson who has entered the country from jordan. we've just crossed through the syrian border and we were greeted by groups of armed young men draped in the new syrian flag. how are you feeling today? syria... smiling, friendly, they wave us through without a single check. president assad's men have fled. the iron grip that that regime had on this country has gone and the gates to syria are now in rebel hands. driving up towards the capital, damascus, and this road is littered with abandoned military vehicles, empty army posts. this was the area where protests against president assad first took hold

1a years ago and the regime cracked down really hard here. now that regime has fled and groups of opposition fighters have taken up positions on this road imposing a new control. now to some of the images coming out of syria's sednaaya military prison north of damsacus. amnesty international previously described it as notorious for the use of torture and excessive force . large crowds have been gathering outside the prison, in which thousands of opponents of the ousted assad regime have been detained. rescuers from the white helmets civil defence group joined the search of the complex — where some inmates are alleged to have been held in underground cells. here's bbc arabic�*s special correspondent feras kilani with more. this is how bashar al—assad

left the syrians, thousands of them here in saydnaya prison, one of the worst in the middle east, notjust in syria, are looking for their beloved ones. they don't know if they are still alive or killed in torture or hunger. translation: my sons, - son in law and my sisters have been detained for ten years and we do not know anything. they believe that there is a secret entrance from the kitchen to some place with a hidden door, but they don't know where it is. they don't have any idea how to get in there. translation: we urge the prison guards that we're here, _ come back and tell us how

we can get the detainees out. this is the white helmet organisation who brought here... horn blares ..from aleppo and idlib provinces to help to find any hidden cells under this building. translation: we cannot confirm the presence of more detainees. i we are doing what we can, through the help of search dogs, available tools and previous detainees. back to our panellists. leslie vinjamuri, director of the us and americas programme at chatham house and lord peter ricketts, former uk national security advisor. lord ricketts, it is worth, giving the images we have just seen, reflecting a bit on the history of the assad regime, and maybe reminding us of some

of the details.— of the details. this has been a brutal dictatorship, _ of the details. this has been a brutal dictatorship, over - of the details. this has been a brutal dictatorship, over 50 i brutal dictatorship, over 50 years, with the father who ran a very dictatorial regime, and his son used to be a eye doctor in west london, but he took overfrom him 2a in west london, but he took over from him 2a years ago, in west london, but he took overfrom him 2a years ago, and has maintained that family tradition, and when the uprising started, after the uprisings in egypt and tunisia, it was a brutal crackdown by the regime and it turned into a civil war which has continued into the present day, basically, and the assad regime has even used chemical weapons against its own people, in rebel held towns, so the track record is terrible and i feel there will be a lot of evidence of atrocious human rights

abuses and it is very important that the international community are in their documenting that as soon as possible, and that where possible, and that where possible people can be held to account for the war crimes which i fear will come to light as people get inside these prisons and detention centres that the regime have had. there is a bleak picture there and it is a bleak picture there and it is a bleak picture there and it is a moment to get beyond that but in accounting for it, i think that would be a useful deterrent to other arab dictatorial regimes who might think of using the same practices. i think of using the same practices— think of using the same practices. think of using the same ractices. ., ., , ., practices. i want to focus on the us's _ practices. i want to focus on the us's relationship - practices. i want to focus on the us's relationship with i the us's relationship with syria over the years and the complications.— syria over the years and the complications. this is a civil war where _ complications. this is a civil war where very _ complications. this is a civil war where very famously i war where very famously president obama drew a red line when _ president obama drew a red line when it— president obama drew a red line when it came to threatening to do something, if assad used chemical—

do something, if assad used chemical weapons, and we know he did _ chemical weapons, and we know he did not— chemical weapons, and we know he did not follow through chemical weapons, and we know he did no