Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has been named president for the "transitional period", state media report, seven weeks after he led the rebel offensive that overthrew Bashar al-Assad.

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was named as the country's president for the transitional period, the Syrian state news agency reported on Wednesday, citing commander Hassan Abdel Ghani. Your trusted source for the latest news delivered weekdays from the team at U.

The commander appointed Mr Sharaa interim president, dissolved Mr Assad’s Baath Party, and announced the formation of a legislative council that will govern Syria until a new constitution can be agreed.