[Tee tiong huat]

Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa signed a constitutional declaration covering a 5-yr transitional period, 3 mths after his Islamist group led the rebel offensive overthrewing Bashar al-Assad. Document says Islam is the religion of president, as previous constitution did, & Islamic jurisprudence is "main source of legislation", rather than "a main source", It enshrines separation of powers & judicial independence, & guarantees women's rights, freedom of expression & media freedom.

"We hope it will be a new history for Syria, where we replace oppression with justice," Sharaa said. Returning home to Syria: Four stories of hope for Syrian refugees