Syria’s departing government will transfer power until March, says head of interim cabinet

Syria’s new interim leader Mohammed al-Bashir announced on Tuesday he was taking charge of the country as caretaker prime minister until March 1 with the backing of the former rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad only days ago. 

The departing government met with al-Bashir for the first time on Tuesday since Assad fled Damascus over the weekend. 

Al-Bashir told reporters after the meeting that the ministers discussed transferring the portfolios to the interim government during the transitional period until the beginning of March. 

He said that in the coming days the new government will decide on each ministry. 

Elsewhere in Syria, people continue to celebrate for a third day  and shops and banks reopened despite Israeli airstrikes across the country.    

The Biden administration said Tuesday it will recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women.  

Turkish president Recep Erdogan appeared to express optimism over new leadership in Syria, calling it a “great transformation” following the collapse of al-Assad’s regime. 

“Our neighbour, Syria, has witnessed a great transformation in the last ten days. The oppressors have lost and been humiliated, while the oppressed have once again prevailed,” he said. 

It comes as Syrian insurgents swept across the country in just 10 days to bring an end to the Assad family’s 50-year rule.