Syrian rebels say Damascus and prisoners freed in televised announcement

Syrian rebels announced in a televised statement early on Sunday that they have freed Damascus and overthrown President Bashar al Assad's 24-year regime, adding that all prisoners have been released.

Assad, who had crushed all forms of dissent and jailed thousands, flew out of Damascus for an unknown destination earlier on Sunday, two senior army officers told Reuters, as rebels entered the capital with no sign of army deployments.

Reporting by Reuters