Refugees return to Syria as caretaker prime minister is appointed; US sets terms [Video]

DAMASCUS – Refugees from Syria’s long civil war were making their way home on Dec 11, as a new interim prime minister said he was appointed with the backing of the rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad.

US officials, engaging with rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), urged them not to assume automatic leadership of the country but instead run an inclusive process to form a transitional government.

The new government must “uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of minorities, facilitate the flow of humanitarian assistance to all in need and prevent Syria from being used as a base for terrorism or posing a threat to its neighbours”, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

HTS is a former Al-Qaeda affiliate that led the anti-Assad revolt, and has lately downplayed its jihadist roots.

In a brief address on state televisionon Dec 10, Mr Mohammed al-Bashir, a figure little known across …