In Damascus, Ahmed al-Shara, leader of the rebel coalition that overthrew Bashar al-Assad, was expected to address the public but instead announced key decisions through state media. He declared himself president during a transitional phase, dissolved the previous constitution, and disbanded the legislature and army. While some citizens celebrated, others expressed concern over the centralized and authoritarian methods of governance, alongside doubts about al-Shara's support outside of his coalition. There is ambiguity around the length of this transitional period, sparking worries among progressive Syrians about their future role in governance.
"Mr. al-Shara declared himself president for a transitional period, nullifying the Constitution and dissolving the legislature and army formed under the ousted dictatorship."
"It's a very centralized, authoritarian, top down approach... progressive Syrians and others are really worried about their role and their participation in this new state."
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