STORY: Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was declared president for a transitional phase on Wednesday, allowing him to further tighten his hold on power two months after he led a campaign that toppled Bashar al-Assad.

The new leadership of the country said the rebel coalition leader, Ahmed al-Shara, would serve as president during a transitional period.

Sharaa was already de facto head of Syria's government ever since a coalition of rebel fighters swept through most of Syria and ousted Assad's regime.