Syria leader signs constitutional declaration, hailing 'new history'

Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Thursday signed the country's constitutional declaration, which will be enforced throughout a five-year transitional period.

Sharaa said he hoped the constitutional declaration would mark the start of "a new history for Syria, where we replace oppression with justice", as he signed the document setting out the transitional period.

The new constitutional declaration enshrines women's "social, political and economic rights", the committee that drafted it announced.

The declaration also stipulates the "absolute separation of powers", the committee said, adding that it also guarantees the "freedom of opinion, expression and the press".