London | Damascus stirred back to life on Monday at the start of a hopeful but uncertain era after rebels seized the capital and President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia, following 13 years of civil war and more than 50 years of his family’s brutal rule.

Mr Assad was granted asylum by chief ally Russian President Vladimir Putin after rebel forces swept through Syria and ultimately seized the capital, Damascus. Rebels and residents celebrated in the streets and looted the presidential palace, after the lightning advance of the militia brought the Assad dynasty to an ignominious end.