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| Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa | Photo: AFP |
General elections in Syria could take up to four years, Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said in an interview with Saudi Arabia's state-run Al-Arabiya channel on Sunday. The rebels toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad this month. Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has commented for the first time on the timing of possible elections in the country.
In the interview, Sarah said that it could take more than three years to draft a new constitution in Syria. In addition, it could take another year to bring about change in Syria.
The Assad family's rule in Syria ended on December 8. Under Shara's leadership, HTS and other rebel groups united to launch an offensive against President Bashar, ending the country's 13-year civil war. Shara said HTS would be declared dissolved through a national dialogue conference.
Regarding foreign relations, Shara said that Syria has strategic interests with Russia. They have built military bases here. They were Bashar's allies during the long civil war. They also provided shelter to Bashar. Earlier this month, Shara said that Syria's relations with Russia should be based on common interests.
Shara also said he hopes US President Donald Trump's administration will lift sanctions on Syria. Earlier, a senior US diplomat announced that the US had canceled a $10 million reward for Shara's capture.
Meanwhile, the new administration led by Shara in Syria is trying to establish control over the country. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that the new Syrian administration has arrested 300 people from the armed forces, including informants from Bashar's era. These people are known to be close to Bashar. The administration carried out a major operation last Thursday.