Syrian rebels say they have toppled Assad in state TV announcement

Syrian rebels said on Sunday that they have ended President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule, in their first announcement on state television following a lightning offensive that took the world by surprise.

Syria’s army command notified officers on Sunday that Assad’s regime had ended, a Syrian officer who was informed of the move told international media.

But the Syrian army later said it was continuing operations against “terrorist groups” in the towns of Hama and Homs and Deraa countryside.

Syrian rebels said earlier that Damascus was “now free of Assad”.

The head of Syria’s main opposition group abroad Hadi al-Bahra Syrian also declared that Damascus is now “without Bashar al-Assad”.

As Syrians expressed joy, the country’s Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said he was ready to support the continuity of governance and is prepared to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people.

Thousands in cars and on foot congregated at a main square in Damascus waving and chanting “Freedom”, witnesses said.