Syria’s interim president on Thursday signed a temporary constitution that leaves the country under Islamist rule for five years during a transitional phase.

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday hailed the start of a “new history” for his country, signing into force a constitutional declaration regulating its five-year transitional period and laying out rights for women and freedom of expression.

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a constitutional declaration on Thursday that establishes a political transition period of five years. Al-Sharaa said he hoped it would mark "a new history" for the war-scarred country.

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed a temporary constitution that will be in force for a five-year transitional period, three months after his forces led a lightning offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s government.

Religious and ethnic minorities, as well as the US and Europe, are wary about freedom of expression protections

Syria's interim President Ahmad Al Shara on Thursday signed the country's constitutional declaration, which will be enforced throughout a five-year transitional period. Mr Al Shara said he hoped the constitutional declaration would mark the start of "a new history for Syria,