Syria’s new transitional prime minister calls for ‘stability and calm’ amid regime change
Mohammed al-Bashir, a figure little known across most of Syria, takes over as caretaker prime minister
Syria’s new transitional prime minister said it was time for “stability and calm” in the country, and urged Syrians who have sought refuge abroad to return to their homeland, after long-time president Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebels in a lightning offensive.
The rebels appointed Mohammad al-Bashir as the transitional head of government to run the country until March 1, a statement said.
“Now it is time for this people to enjoy stability and calm,” Bashir told Qatar’s Al Jazeera television in his first interview since being appointed on Tuesday.
He also told Italy’s Corriere della Sera daily that one of his first goals was to “bring back the millions of Syrian refugees who are abroad”.
“Their human capital, their experience will allow the country to flourish,” Bashir said in an interview published on Wednesday.
“Mine is an appeal to all Syrians abroad: Syria is now a free country that has earned its pride and dignity. Come back. We must rebuild, be reborn, and we need everyone’s help.”
Assad fled Syria as an Islamist-led opposition alliance swept into the capital Damascus over the weekend, bringing to an end five decades of brutal rule by his clan. A senior official told US broadcaster NBC that the ousted Syrian leader was now in Moscow.