Syria's new leader Ahmad Al Shara said on Thursday that he would impose the power of the state on the whole of country, as the central authorities deal with challenges in the east and west stemming from the civil war.
A rebel coalition that overthrew former leader Bashar Al Assad declared Mr Al Shara as Syria's President on Wednesday. The coalition, called the Operations Room, is dominated by his group, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, a former offshoot of Al Qaeda and Al Nusra Front.
"We will concentrate in the coming period on … completely uniting the whole of Syria and bringing it under a single authority, and build institutions based on merit and free of corruption," Mr Al Shara said in a three-minute televised statement.
Syria's leader Ahmad Al Shara meets officials in Damascus - in pictures
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Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi meets Syria's de facto leader Ahmad Al Shara in Damascus. Photo: Jordanian Foreign Ministry -
The two men held extensive talks in the Syrian capital. Photo: Jordanian Foreign Ministry -
Mr Safadi, left, seen shaking hands with Mr Al Shara, is expected to meet other key Syrian officials during the visit. AFP -
Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, with his son Taymur looking on, is received by Mr Al Shara in Damascus. Reuters -
Walid and Taymur Jumblatt in talks with Mr Al Shara, Syria’s interim prime minister Mohammed Al Bashir and Druze leaders in Damascus. AFP -
Walid Jumblatt is the first Lebanese leader to meet Mr Al Shara since his Hayat Tahrir Al Sham group and allied rebel factions launched a lightning offensive, seizing Damascus and ousting long-time Syrian president Bashar Al Assad. AFP -
Taymur Jumblatt, Walid Jumblatt and Mr Al Bashir. AFP -
Mr Al Bashir with Walid Jumblatt. AFP -
Taymur Jumblatt with officials in Damascus. Reuters -
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan meets Mr Al Shara in Damascus. Reuters -
Mr Fidan, left, with Mr Al Shara during their meeting. Mr Fidan is the first foreign minister to visit Damascus since president Bashar Al Assad's overthrow two weeks ago. Reuters -
Mr Fidan and Mr Al Shara held talks on Sunday during which they vowed to strengthen bilateral ties. EPA -
Mr Fidan, left, and Mr Al Shara attend a press conference after their meeting. EPA -
Hayat Tahrir Al Sham leader Mr Al Shara at a press conference after meeting Mr Fidan in Damascus, Syria. EPA -
Mr Fidan at a press conference after a meeting Mr Al Sharaa in Damascus, Syria. EPA
The new central authorities will also "instil civil peace and pursue the criminals who have spilt Syrian blood and committed toward us crimes and massacres", he said, referring to loyalists of the former Assad family regime, who ruled Syria from 1970 to 2024.
The power of Mr Al Shara, who was until last month ruler of a small fiefdom in northern Syria, is being challenged on two fronts in the outlying areas of the country. Since the civil war began in late 2011, Kurdish militias have carved out large areas in the east of the country, while core loyalists of Mr Al Assad entrenched themselves in the western Alawite mountains overlooking the coast.
HTS forces have launched a military campaign to subdue members of the former regime. At the same time, Syrian militias loyal to Turkey and allied with HTS have launched an offensive against the Kurdish-led militias that control the east.
Syrians in remote desert refugee camp hail Assad's downfall - but cannot leave - video
The ascendancy of Mr Al Shara has sparked fears the country will fail to change into a system fundamentally different from the iron rule he played a main role in toppling.
He vowed that there will be free elections in Syria, without setting a time. He said the authorities will fist appoint a legislature and convene a national dialogue conference to "listen to all views about our upcoming political programme".
Mr Al Shara did not mention pluralism or democracy directly. He said that Syria, having been liberated from 54 years of "one the darkest tyrannical rules" the world had known, will be "governed by shura", a form of collective decision making in Islam.
