The leader of the former rebel group that toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad has been named the country’s interim president, following a meeting of the former insurgent factions.

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

Sharaa, the leader of the main rebel group who led the overthrow of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, has been named Syria's transitional president, the country's military command announced on Jan. 29.

Syria’s ruler Ahmad Al Shara has demanded at a meeting in Damascus that Russia hand over former president Bashar Al Assad and an estimated $2 billion in liquid assets held by the exiled dictator's family in Russian banks,

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.

Former rebels now controlling Syria name an interim president and throw out the constitution adopted under Assad, saying a new one will be drafted soon.