New Syrian PM calls for refugees abroad to return

Syria’s new interim prime minister says he aims to bring back millions of Syrian refugees, protect all citizens, and provide basic services, but he acknowledges it will be difficult because the country lacks foreign currency.

“In the coffers, there are only Syrian pounds worth little or nothing. One US dollar buys 35,000 of our coins,” Mohammed al-Bashir tells Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera.

“We have no foreign currency and, as for loans and bonds, we are still collecting data. So yes, financially we are very bad.”

He also appeals to “all Syrians abroad: Syria is now a free country that has earned its pride and dignity. Come back.” He adds that “the rights of all people and all sects in Syria” will be guaranteed.

Bashir ran the rebel-led Salvation Government in a tiny pocket of northwestern Syria, before the 12-day lightning rebel offensive swept into Damascus and toppled veteran autocrat president Bashar al-Assad.