Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed a temporary constitution that will be in force for a five-year transitional period, three months after his forces led a lightning offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s government.

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday hailed the start of a "new history" for his country, signing into force a constitutional declaration regulating its five-year transitional period and laying out rights for women and freedom of expression.

Syria’s interim president has signed a temporary constitution that leaves the country under Islamist rule for five years during a transitional phase

The document enshrines separation of powers and guarantees women's rights, freedom of expression and media freedom.

Religious and ethnic minorities, as well as the US and Europe, are wary about freedom of expression protections