Thousands gather in Damascus to celebrate the toppling of Assad regime

Syrians chant slogans and wave the new Syrian flag as they gather for Friday prayers at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Picture: Leo Correa/AP

Thousands of Syrians gathered on Friday at Umayyad Square, the largest in Damascus, to celebrate after the first Muslim Friday prayers following the downfall of former president Bashar Assad.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of insurgency that toppled Assad in a lightning 10-day march across the country to Damascus, appeared in a video message in which he congratulated “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution”.