The rebel chief who led the overthrow of the longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad has been declared the head of government for a transitional period.

In his first televised speech as interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa promised to form an inclusive government and build strong state institutions.

Sharaa, who took the helm after Bashar al-Assad's ouster last month, has been appointed interim president and tasked with forming a transitional legislature, state media reported. A rebel alliance led by