President Bashar loses power as rebels take over Syria Syria's army command on Sunday notified officers that President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule had ended, a Syrian officer familiar with the situation told Reuters. This comes after a rapid rebel offensive that took the world by surprise. Syrian rebels, who declared Damascus "now free of Assad," are expected to make their first address to the Syrian people via state television, according to two rebel sources. President Assad, known for suppressing dissent, fled Damascus to an undisclosed location earlier on Sunday, two senior...