Starmer welcomes fall of Assad's 'barbaric regime
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the fall of Bashar al-Assad's "barbaric regime" in Syria, as he called for the restoration of "peace and stability".
The ousted Syrian president - who Russian state media report is in Moscow having been granted asylum by Russia - fled the country after his government fell to a lightning rebel offensive early on Sunday.
Sir Keir said the Syrian people "had to put up with [Assad's] brutal regime for far, far too long".
When asked if the government would engage with rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), set up as an affiliate of al-Qaeda and proscribed as a terrorist group by the UK, he said it was "early days" but that there needed to be a "political solution".
"The developments in Syria in recent hours and days are unprecedented, and we are speaking to our partners in the region and monitoring the situation closely," Sir Keir said on Sunday, shortly after arriving in the United Arab Emirates for a visit unrelated to events in Syria.
"The Syrian people have suffered under Assad's barbaric regime for too long and we welcome his departure.
"Our focus is now on ensuring a political solution prevails, and peace and stability is restored."
He also called on "all sides" to protect civilians and minorities, and "ensure essential aid can reach the most vulnerable" in the coming hours and days.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel said: "Our first priority must be the Syrian people. Syrians need to be protected – all communities and groups."
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey described Assad as "a vile dictator who used chemical weapons against him own people" in a post on X.
He added the UK must "do what we can to ensure the protection of minority groups and ultimately an orderly transition of power with free and fair elections".