Syria lifts curfew in Damascus

DAMASCUS — Syria's Military Operations Administration announced on Wednesday the lifting of a curfew in Damascus and surrounding areas, urging residents to return to work as the country grapples with the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad's ouster.

The announcement coincided with interim Prime Minister Mohamed al-Bashir's call for refugees to return home.

Al-Bashir, a former regional leader in northwestern Syria, was appointed on Tuesday to head a transitional government until March. His appointment follows a swift offensive by a militant alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which captured Damascus within 12 days after launching its offensive from northern Syria on Nov 27. Assad has fled the country, ending five decades of his family's rule.

The new leadership, dominated by HTS, has sought to reassure religious minorities and promise that the rights of all religious and ethnic groups will be guaranteed.

HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani also pledged justice for "victims" of Assad's administration, saying officials in Assad's government involved in torture would not be pardoned.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Syria's interim government said on Thursday the country's constitution and parliament would be suspended for the duration of a three-month transition.

"A judicial and human rights committee will be established to examine the constitution and then introduce amendments," Obaida Arnaout told AFP.

Cease-fire in northeast

In the northeast, Kurdish-led forces announced a United States-brokered cease-fire on Wednesday with Turkish-backed militants in the strategic city of Manbij. Days of fierce clashes in the Arab-majority city erupted after the fall of the Assad government.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led coalition of US-backed militias, reported that 218 combatants were killed in the fighting and pledged to withdraw from the area "as soon as possible".

On Wednesday, Qatar said it would "soon" reopen its embassy in Damascus, citing historical ties and a commitment to supporting Syria's reconstruction. The decision aligns with Qatar's efforts to channel humanitarian aid to the Syrian people through an established air bridge.

In July 2011, after the outbreak of anti-government protests in Syria, Qatar recalled its ambassador and closed its embassy.

Xinhua - Agencies