Syrian president flees after rebels took over capital

Eric Patrick

The long leadership of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has come to an end after rebels took over the capital of Damascus.

Photos seen by THEWATCH AFRICA, captured millions of Syrians in the streets celebrating after the city was declared "liberated by the rebels.

It's the culmination of an extraordinary week that saw the rebel forces undertake a lightning advance in key cities, signaling an astonishing reordering of power in a strategically vital Middle Eastern nation.

According to a statement by Russia's foreign ministry and gathered by Thewatch Africa, Bashar al-Assad left Syria after he decided to leave the presidential post, giving stiff  instructions to transfer power peacefully. 

The statement further stated that the Russian government did not participate in these negotiations.

Syria's prime minister said in a separate message that the government stands ready "to cooperate with any leadership the people choose. The prime minister was seen in a video being escorted by rebels.

The rebels who were led by Islamists have said minorities will be protected.

The events in Syria mark the collapse of Iran's artifice across the Middle East.

The toppling of the Iran-backed Assad follows the decimation of key Tehran proxies Hezbollah and Hamas in conflicts with Israel over the past 14 months.