Israel strikes chemical weapons sites

Ex-Syrian president fled to Moscow after negotiations with rebels failed

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OUSTED Syrian leader Bashar Assad fled to Moscow and received asylum from his longtime ally, Russian media said on Sunday, hours after a stunning rebel advance seized control of Damascus and ended his family's 50 years of iron rule.

The arrival of Assad and his family in Moscow was reported by Russian agencies Tass and RIA, citing an unidentified source at the Kremlin. RIA also said Syrian insurgents had guaranteed the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic posts in Syria.

Earlier, Russia said Assad left Syria after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully.

The leader of Syria's biggest rebel faction, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is poised to chart the country's future. The former al-Qaida commander cut ties with the group years ago and says he embraces pluralism and religious tolerance.

His Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, is considered a terrorist organisation by the US and the UN.