Syrian army command tells officers Assad rule has ended -- source

Syria’s army command has notified officers that President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year authoritarian rule has ended, a Syrian officer informed of the move tells Reuters, following a rapid rebel offensive that took the world by surprise.

Syrian rebels, who say Damascus is “now free of Assad,” are expected to broadcast their first statement to the Syrian people on state television, two rebel sources say.

Assad, who had crushed all forms of dissent, flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination earlier today, two senior army officers tell Reuters, as rebels say they have entered the capital with no sign of army deployments.