offering rewards for are offering rewards for information about senior officials who committed abuses. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu testifies for the first time in his long—running corruption trial. this is the scene live outside the courthouse in tel aviv where crowds of supporters and opponents of mr neta nyahu have gathered. a man is charged with murder over last week's fatal shooting of a healthcare boss in new york. and real—life �*succession�* — rupert murdoch loses his bid to change a family trust and give control of his media empire to his eldest son. hello, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. the islamist syrian rebel leader, abu mohammed al—jolani, has said that senior officials of the assad regime, who were involved in torturing political prisoners, will be held accountable.

it comes as rescue workers say they have ended their search for possible detainees in secret cells or basements at saydnaya military prison without finding anyone. specialised teams, assisted by dog units and individuals familiar with the layout, had been combing the prison as crowds gathered in the hope of finding their missing relatives. speaking at a news conference, the un special envoy for syria, geir otto pedersen has said the rebel groups are so far "sending good messages" to the syrian people and are also co—ordinating well. for co—ordinating well. now, much of what some call rebel for now, much of what some call rebel —controlled syria is under what i would call a patchwork of groups, who are coordinating well for now, but they are not fully or formally united. it is important that we

don't see conflict between these groups. let me also say that, by and large, we have seen reassuring statements from the different armed groups, but there are still some issues of law and order. syrians in lebanon continue to return home after the dramatic fall of al—assad's government. these are the latest pictures from damascus where banks are expected to reopen and public transport services will resume. work continues to build a transitional government. the rebel leader has named an interim prime minister and a small cabinet so that public services can resume. meanwhile, israeli warplanes are reported to have carried out more than 100 airstrikes across syria. loud explosions have been reported in the capital damascas and smoke seen rising over the city. a research centre suspected of links to chemical weapons production was among the sites hit.

israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, said the action was necessary to ensure his country's security. let's speak to our correspondent in damascus, barbara plett—usher. good to see you. a very noisy night, i am sure, with those strikes by israel, but you are out and about today, how does the city feel?— the city feel? well, it really does feel— the city feel? well, it really does feel like _ the city feel? well, it really does feel like it _ the city feel? well, it really does feel like it is - the city feel? well, it really| does feel like it is beginning to get back to normal. there's quite a lot of traffic on the streets now, and as we drove down the street we could see a number of coffees and jobs have begun to open. as you said, the several government agencies have called for people to come back to work. we have been hearing anecdotally that about 40% of them have done so, so there has been a real effort to try to get things up and running as soon as possible. the rebel leader abu mohammed al—jolani has said that he wanted a transition to happen that would keep services

running, so he seems to be aware that that is very important. i was down in the square, the central part of damascus, and there were some youngsters and some other people coming up to the tank they're showing peace signs and singing and chanting, and then an islamic sheik came up to me and wanted to speak, and he said we are not going back, we are only going forward, there won't be revenge. this needs to be a syria for all of its people, no matter what their religion or ethnicity. so that was the celebratory mood there. my was the celebratory mood there. my colleague lisa doucet has just arrived and she drove in from the lebanese border. what does that drive like, and what were your impressions as you came in? this were your impressions as you came in?— were your impressions as you camein? came in? as you saw when you came in? as you saw when you came in, _ came in? as you saw when you came in. there _ came in? as you saw when you came in, there has _ came in? as you saw when you came in, there has been - came in? as you saw when you came in, there has been this . came in, there has been this really— came in, there has been this really extraordinary image of the streaming traffic, of so many— the streaming traffic, of so many syrians enjoying and celebrating, almost disbelief, rushing — celebrating, almost disbelief, rushing back to the country. the — rushing back to the country. the grid _ rushing back to the country. the grid look at the lebanese syrian — the grid look at the lebanese syrian border and there's

almost _ syrian border and there's almost no formalities any more. -- gridlock _ almost no formalities any more. —— gridlock. there was almost an image _ —— gridlock. there was almost an image of the divide in syria _ an image of the divide in syria. the long concrete barrier— syria. the long concrete barrier of the people flooding in, complete gridlock, but a long — in, complete gridlock, but a long stream, almost as long, if not longer, of the people rushing _ not longer, of the people rushing out. the cars, vehicles _ rushing out. the cars, vehicles. we saw foreigners, pakistanis, iranians, we saw the white _ pakistanis, iranians, we saw the white vehicles of the united _ the white vehicles of the united nations, and we saw lebanese people saying it was a great _ lebanese people saying it was a great day — lebanese people saying it was a great day for syria, but when i asked — great day for syria, but when i asked syrians where they were leaving — asked syrians where they were leaving they said because of the wan _ leaving they said because of the war. i said, but the war is oven — the war. i said, but the war is oven they— the war. i said, but the war is over. they talked about the israeti — over. they talked about the israeli strikes. they also said. _ israeli strikes. they also said, "we don't feel safe any more — said, "we don't feel safe any more. they are saydnaya prison, and they— more. they are saydnaya prison, and they said they were fearfut _ and they said they were fearful. they said they were heading _ fearful. they said they were heading straight to beirut to head — heading straight to beirut to head to _ heading straight to beirut to head to the office of the united _ head to the office of the united nations —— they said they— united nations —— they said they were _ united nations —— they said they were shi'ia. one man broke down _ they were shi'ia. one man broke down in — they were shi'ia. one man broke down in front of us, talking about— down in front of us, talking about how he had built up so much — about how he had built up so much in _ about how he had built up so much in his life, and now he felt — much in his life, and now he felt it— much in his life, and now he felt it was— much in his life, and now he felt it was gone. he talked

about— felt it was gone. he talked about the men with the beards. we don't — about the men with the beards. we don't know how much of these people _ we don't know how much of these people feel that perhaps they could — people feel that perhaps they could be targeted because now it is clear— could be targeted because now it is clear that even though the new— it is clear that even though the new leaders have said they will he — the new leaders have said they will he no _ the new leaders have said they will be no revenge, they said they— will be no revenge, they said they will— will be no revenge, they said they will look for accountability, look to put on trial— accountability, look to put on trial anyone who was complicit. so trial anyone who was complicit. 50 among — trial anyone who was complicit. so among those fleeing, i am sure — so among those fleeing, i am sure there are members of the syrian — sure there are members of the syrian regime and there may be members — syrian regime and there may be members of the syrian security forces, — members of the syrian security forces, the shadowy organisation that was blamed for so — organisation that was blamed for so many of the massacres that— for so many of the massacres that took— for so many of the massacres that took place over so many years — that took place over so many years it _ that took place over so many years it is _ that took place over so many years. it is an uncertain time inthe— years. it is an uncertain time in the city~ _ years. it is an uncertain time in the city-— years. it is an uncertain time in the city._ it - years. it is an uncertain time | in the city._ it was in the city. absolutely. it was interesting. _ in the city. absolutely. it was interesting, everyone - in the city. absolutely. it was interesting, everyone who i in the city. absolutely. it was| interesting, everyone who left spoke — interesting, everyone who left spoke about the israeli strikes, and i know last night we heard _ strikes, and i know last night we heard them, even here in damascus _ we heard them, even here in damascus— we heard them, even here in damascus. , , . ., , damascus. oh, yes. we have been heafina damascus. oh, yes. we have been hearing israeli _ damascus. oh, yes. we have been hearing israeli strike _ damascus. oh, yes. we have been hearing israeli strike since - damascus. oh, yes. we have been hearing israeli strike since we - hearing israeli strike since we arrived. it is a regular rhythm of them so you don't even pay that much attention to them, but last night i woke up because it was a very powerful

series of strikes, and the israelis are saying that they are taking out military equipment and weapons. they have been very concerned about these weapons, especially chemical weapons and missiles, falling into the hands of hostile groups. it is a tenuous situation and the israelis don't like that kind of situation, as you know well. but what we have been hearing, the uk based or monitor is saying, in actualfact the uk based or monitor is saying, in actual fact they have hit most of the big military strategic sites and bases. this is a matter of concern for regional leaders because they are looking at this, and the israelis are carrying out these attacks, and the saudi arabian officials are saying that if they are doing this, they are going to hamper or destroy syria �*s ability to maintain its own security. what everyone wants, of course, no matter what sort of interest they have there, and different countries have different interests, they don't want things to descend into chaos because the rebel alliance in damascus is one of several

different groups who are coordinating, actually, but we don't know where that is going to lead. that was probably also something that the people you were talking to you were wondering about, whether this would become a new libya, for example. i think that's what people are saying. what was yoursense people are saying. what was your sense when you came into damascus? did you feel that things were more normal than damascus? did you feel that things were more normal than you might have expected you might have expected question mark i have to say question mark i have to say first that it is very strange first that it is very strange to be coming down this road to be coming down this road because we came down it so many because we came down it so many times when, of course, there times when, of course, there was this iron—fisted grip of was this iron—fisted grip of the assad family, posters the assad family, posters everywhere, and now of course everywhere, and now of course some of them are tattered and some of them are tattered and some of them are tattered and some have been brought down. some of them are tattered and some have been brought down. the checkpoints have been shot. the checkpoints have been shot. it is it is the checkpoints have been shot. it is new — the checkpoints have been shot. it is new men with guns were the checkpoints have been shot. it is new — the checkpoints have been shot. it is new men with guns were there — it is new men with guns were there. and every time you come there — it is new men with guns were there. and every time you come to damascus it was with some to damascus it was with some trepidation, what would you trepidation, what would you see? — trepidation, what would you see? because you always ended see? — trepidation, what would you see? because you always ended up up see? because you always ended up reporting on massacres, on see? because you always ended up reporting on massacres, on sieges, — sieges, — up reporting on massacres, on sieges, devastation, warand sieges, devastation, war and up reporting on massacres, on sieges, devastation, warand sieges, devastation, war and suffering _ sieges, devastation, warand suffering. now, of course, it suffering _ sieges, devastation, warand suffering. now, of course, it is a — suffering. now, of course, it is a new— suffering. now, of course, it is a — suffering. now, of course, it is a new— suffering. now, of course, it is a new time for syria. you is a new time for syria. you mentioned the experience of mentioned the experience of

libya — mentioned the experience of libya. many are feel that libya — mentioned the experience of libya. many are saying and most of all— libya. many are saying and most of all syrians that they want to avoid _ of all syrians that they want to avoid what happened in iraq with the — to avoid what happened in iraq with the collapse of the army and the — with the collapse of the army and the party, but it is a new day— and the party, but it is a new day and _ and the party, but it is a new day and for so many syrians, they— day and for so many syrians, they do— day and for so many syrians, they do feel that.— day and for so many syrians, they do feel that. exactly. an old order— they do feel that. exactly. an old order has _ they do feel that. exactly. an old order has died, _ they do feel that. exactly. an old order has died, and - they do feel that. exactly. an old order has died, and a - they do feel that. exactly. an | old order has died, and a new one has not yet begun. we are very much hovering in the in between stage there with lots of concerns, but also lots of hope. we feel privileged to be here to see what happens next. we are very lucky to have you there. thank you both. they will be with us throughout the day here on bbc news. we are nowjoined from aleppo. how are things there? now joined from aleppo. how are things there?— things there? thank you for havin: things there? thank you for having me- _ things there? thank you for having me. actually, - things there? thank you for having me. actually, the i having me. actually, the situation right now in aleppo city is getting better in terms of their safety because

civilians before in the assad regime were afraid of potential strikes, of potential violence that would destroy the city.

strikes, of potential violence that would destroy and city. strikes, of potential violence that would destroy and also square of the city. and also unexploded ordnance, just trying to make the situation better and easierfor trying to make the situation better and easier for citizens. there is so much concern vertically from families whose loved ones were taken away and put in prison. have the white, grey helmets managed to make it to any of the presence in aleppo, and what have they found there if they got there? actually yesterday, after the syrians have started to watch the shared videos about detainees and the prisoners over there, detainees and the prisoners overthere, it detainees and the prisoners over there, it was really sad and it was a blue day for everyone here. following that

we started to 1522 00:12:01