Following discussions with “various parties to the armed conflict,” Syrian President Bashar al-Assad resigned and left the country, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday. The ministry did not say where he is, however. Before the Russian statement, CNN sources reported that al-Assad had left Damascus under Russian protection and had gone to Latakia in northwestern Syria, where Russia has an air base.
Earlier, Syrian rebels said they had entered the capital, Damascus. Shortly afterward, the Syrian army command informed the government that al-Assad’s regime was “over.” In a statement cited by Reuters, the Russian ministry said the country had not taken part in negotiations for the Syrian president’s ouster.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali has said he is ready to hand over power to a transitional government.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that Assad had ordered a peaceful handover of power. It said the Kremlin was in contact with all Syrian opposition groups. Russian military bases in Syria have been put on high alert, but the ministry said there was no serious threat at the moment.
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