A PLANE fleeing Syria as rebels seized Damascus vanished off radar – sparking rumours about Bashar al-Assad’s whereabouts.
It comes after the dictator’s government was overthrown by rebels that seized the capital in a lightning blitz and declared victory Saturday.
The plane did a U-turn after reaching Homs before going off radar
Unconfirmed flight tracking data show the plane descending to the ground
AFPBashar al-Assad has fled Damascus[/caption]
Reuters now reports a Syrian Air plane took off from Damascus airport around the time the capital was taken by rebels, according to data from the Flightradar website.
The aircraft initially flew towards Syria’s coastal region, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect, but then made an abrupt U-turn over Homs and flew in the opposite direction for a few minutes before disappearing off the map.
Reuters could not immediately ascertain who was on board.
Two Syrian sources said there was a very high probability that Assad may have been killed in a plane crash as it was a mystery why the plane took a surprise U turn and disappeared off the map.
One source said: “It disappeared off the radar, possibly the transponder was switched off, but I believe the bigger probability is that the aircraft was taken down…”
Syria’s army command has notified officers Assad’s rule is over – while rebels said Damascus is now “free of Assad”, Reuters reported.
There has been no official statement from Assad’s government.
Another report claims Assad has flown to the Russian-operated Khmeimim Air Base in a part of Syria still loyal to the regime, Walla writes.
Rebels are now hunting for the cruel dictator – notorious for nerve gas attacks on children in 2013.
Meanwhile, power has begun to transition to the rebels with the PM announcing he would hand it over.
Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali can be seen in footage flanked by rebel fighters with AK-47s as he leaves his home and gets into a car.
Reports said al-Jalali was headed to the rebels’ headquarters in Damascus to begin the transition of power to the victorious militants.
In an earlier video statement, he said: “The matter is up to any leadership chosen by the people and we are ready to cooperate and all the properties of the people and the institutions of the Syrian state must be preserved.
“I hope all Syrians think rationally about the interests of their country.”
In a victory statement, rebels congratulated the country on overthrowing Assad.
The Syrian National Coalition said: “The great Syrian revolution has broken decades of tyranny and oppression, giving birth to a new Syria.
“Today, it has moved from the struggle to overthrow the Assad regime to the struggle to build a Syria that honours the sacrifices of its people.”
It also declared a commitment to transfer power to a transitional governing body and aim “for a free, democratic, and pluralistic Syria”.
The flight left Damascus and flew north
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