Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday hailed the start of a "new history" for his country, signing into force a constitutional declaration regulating its five-year transitional period and laying out rights for women and freedom of expression.

Syria’s interim president has signed a temporary constitution that leaves the country under Islamist rule for five years during a transitional phase

Religious and ethnic minorities, as well as the US and Europe, are wary about freedom of expression protections

Armed groups killed entire families, including women and children, during an outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria last week, the United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday.

Syria's fragile transition from decades of Assad family brutal rule has been greatly shaken with an outburst of sectarian retribution and killings, posing a serious challenge to the new leadership led by Ahmad Sharaa.

On March 6, armed fighters loyal to former Syrian president Bashar Al Assad launched an attack on Syria's interim-government troops in Latakia. Syrian authorities, supported by pro-government militias,