Syria Appoints Regime Critic As Top Muslim Cleric

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed Assad critic Osama al-Rifai as grand mufti. Rifai, beaten in 2011 for opposing Assad, later led an Islamic council in exile. He returned after rebels ousted Assad. Former grand mufti Ahmed Badreddin Hassoun, a pro-Assad figure, was reportedly arrested while trying to leave the country.