Mohammad Al Bashir. File photo: AFP / Sana Telegram Channel
Syria's newly appointed transitional prime minister, Mohammad Al Bashir, declared on Tuesday that it was time for "stability and calm" in the country. This announcement came just two days after the ousting of long-time president Bashar Al Assad by rebel forces in a swift offensive. According to a statement, the rebels have designated Al Bashir as the transitional head of government, tasked with overseeing the country until March 1.
"Now it is time for this people to enjoy stability and calm," Bashir stated in his first interview with Qatar's Al Jazeera television since his appointment. Assad fled Syria as an opposition alliance took control of the capital, Damascus, over the weekend, marking the end of his five-decade-long, brutal rule. A senior official informed US broadcaster NBC that the deposed Syrian leader is now in Moscow.
Abu Mohammed Al Jolani, who led the rebel offensive, had earlier announced discussions on the transfer of power and pledged to hold former senior officials accountable for torture and war crimes. On Tuesday, he sought to reassure the public about Syria's future governance, telling British broadcaster Sky News that the country was "exhausted" by war and would not return to conflict.
"Syria will be rebuilt... The country is moving towards development and reconstruction. It's going towards stability," he said. "People are exhausted from war. So the country isn't ready for another one, and it's not going to get into another one."
Al Jolani's group, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, has ties to Syria's Al Qaeda branch and is designated as a terrorist organization by many Western governments, despite efforts to moderate its image. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on all nations to support an "inclusive" political process in Syria, stating that the US would recognize a government if it meets such standards.
Blinken emphasized that the future government of Syria should be "credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian." He outlined US priorities, stating that the new government must "uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities" and ensure the flow of humanitarian assistance.
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