
Syria’s new govt says to suspend constitution, parliament for three months
Syria’s new government spokesman told AFP on December 12 the country’s constitution and parliament would be suspended for the duration of the three-month transition period following president Bashar al-Assad’s ouster. “A judicial and human rights committee will be established to examine the constitution and then introduce amendments,” Obaida Arnaout told AFP. The current constitution dates back to 2012 and does not specify Islam as the state religion. Rebels led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seized the capital Damascus on December 8, sending Assad fleeing into exile. On December 10, they named Mohammed al-Bashir, who headed the rebels’ self-proclaimed “Salvation Government” in their northwestern bastion of Idlib, as the country’s transitional prime minister until March 1. Arnaout said a meeting would be held on December 10 “between Salvation Government ministers and the former ministers” of Assad’s administration to carry out the transfer of power. “This transitional period will…...