Rebel-backed figure takes charge as Syria's interim prime minister

 Syrians celebrate at Umayyad Square in Aleppo. Picture: Omar Sanadiki

Syria's new interim leader announced on Tuesday he was taking charge of the country as caretaker prime minister with the backing of the former rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad three days ago.

In a brief address on state television, Mohammed al-Bashir, a figure little known across most of Syria who previously ran an administration in a small pocket of the northwest controlled by rebels, said he would lead the interim authority until March 1.