The new leadership of the country said the rebel coalition leader, Ahmed al-Shara, would serve as president during a transitional period.

DAMASCUS - Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was declared President for a transitional phase on Jan 29, tightening his hold on power less than two months after he led a campaign that toppled Bashar al-Assad.

Syria’s ruler Ahmad Al Shara has demanded that Russia hand over former president Bashar Al Assad and an estimated $2 billion dollars in liquid assets held by the Assad family in Russian banks, during a meeting in Damascus,

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has been named president for the "transitional period", state media report, seven weeks after he led the rebel offensive that overthrew Bashar al-Assad.

Sharaa was already de facto head of Syria's government ever since a coalition of rebel fighters swept through most of Syria and ousted Assad's regime.

A former rebel leader who helped defeat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last month was named interim president of the country Wednesday. Commanders of military factions that toppled the former regime named Ahmed al-Sharaa,