Syrians celebrate fall of Assad family rule

Crowds ransacked the president's luxurious home after rebels swept into Damascus and declared the city free

- 

CELEBRATIONS erupted around Syria and crowds ransacked President Bashar al-Assad's luxurious home on Sunday after Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus and declared he fled the country, in a spectacular end to five decades of Baath party rule.

Assad's whereabouts were not immediately clear, but his key backer Russia said he had resigned from the presidency and left Syria.

Residents in the capital were seen cheering in the streets as the rebel factions heralded the departure of "tyrant" Assad, saying: "We declare the city of Damascus free."

Dozens of men, women and children were wandering through Assad's luxurious home after it had been looted.

The rooms of the residence had been left completely empty, save some furniture and a portrait of Assad discarded on the floor, while an entrance hall at the presidential palace not far away had been torched.

"I can't believe I'm living this moment," tearful Damascus resident Amer Batha said.