The 8th of December marked a year since Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was forced to leave the capital Damascus. Assad's regime, or way of governing, was marked by civil war and brutal attacks on pro-democracy protesters. Ahmed al-Shara became the country's president. Al-Shara is a former al-Qaeda fighter who led the rebel group which removed Assad from power. In a speech to the nation on Monday, he promised to build a Syria for all Syrians, saying the country had broken away from its past of repression and violence.
Syrians gathered at home and abroad to celebrate the year anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime, whether they agree with President al-Shara or oppose him. Let's have our first headline. OK, this one is from France 24. Taking stock of Shahra's rule in Syria one year after the fall of Assad.
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