New elections could take up to four years, Syria rebel leader says

Sharaa said Syria needed to rebuild its legal system and would have to hold a comprehensive population census to run legitimate elections.

Sharaa – previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani – has led the country’s new authorities after the Assad presidency fell earlier this month.

Since then, questions have been raised over how HTS will govern the multi-ethnic country.

HTS began as a jihadist group – espousing violence to achieve its goal of establishing a state governed by Islamic law (Sharia) – but has distanced itself from that past in recent years.

Sharaa said the group, which was once aligned with Islamic State and al- Qaeda and is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN and many countries, will be “dissolved” at an upcoming national dialogue conference but gave no further details.

The gathering could be the first test of whether Syria’s new leadership can achieve the promised goal of uniting the country after thirteen years of civil war.

Responding to criticism of his transitional government, he said the appointments made were “essential” and not meant to exclude anyone.

Syria is home to many ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shia and Arab Sunnis, the last of whom make up a majority of the Muslim population.

His group have promised to protect the rights and freedoms of minorities in the country.