Syria rebels name head of transitional govt

Syrian rebels in Damascus. Islamist-led rebels took Damascus in a lightning offensive on December 8, ousting President Bashar al-Assad and ending five decades of Baath rule in Syria. [AFP]

The rebels who ousted President Bashar al-Assad and are now in power in Syria appointed a transitional head of government Tuesday to run the country until March 1, a statement said.

"The general command has tasked us with running the transitional government until March 1," said a statement attributed to Mohammad al-Bashir on state television's Telegram account, referring to him as "the new Syrian prime minister".