Lina Sinjab

For Atiyah and Ghaziyah, this might not be comforting. But for some of the children here, there is now a better chance of being found.

Russia's deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, along with President Putin's special advisor on Syria, are in Damascus. There's been no direct confirmation from the Syrian authorities on who they are meeting. Relations between the two sides are tense. Many Syrians want Bashar al-Assad, who's been given asylum in Russia, to be prosecuted.

Russia's deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, along with President Putin's special advisor on Syria, are in Damascus. There's been no direct confirmation from the Syrian authorities on who they are meeting. Relations between the two sides are tense. Many Syrians want Bashar al-Assad, who's been given asylum in Russia, to be prosecuted.

It's hard to tell whether the Syrian government will raise this issue or discuss the money the ousted leader fled with, leaving the country in poverty. The Russians will probably focus on their naval presence on Syria's coast, as reports suggest Moscow's military equipment has been removed from the port of Tartus.

It's hard to tell whether the Syrian government will raise this issue or discuss the money the ousted leader fled with, leaving the country in poverty. The Russians will probably focus on their naval presence on Syria's coast, as reports suggest Moscow's military equipment has been removed from the port of Tartus.

We are at Umayyad Square and this is the first day where civil society have gathered. It is the civil youth gathering. It's full of artists, painters, musicians and ordinary peoples. And the calls are mainly for a civil democratic state to participate in the formation of the constitution. They're welcoming the new government, but they're also saying we are here together.

We are at Umayyad Square and this is the first day where civil society have gathered. It is the civil youth gathering. It's full of artists, painters, musicians and ordinary peoples. And the calls are mainly for a civil democratic state to participate in the formation of the constitution. They're welcoming the new government, but they're also saying we are here together.

The Umayyad Square has become a place of exchanging views among different people. Something like the Hyde Park Speaker's Corner that never happened under Assad's power. Men and women are arguing about the country's priorities. The men think it is not time to talk about women's rights. The women insist now is the time for every right to be discussed.

The Umayyad Square has become a place of exchanging views among different people. Something like the Hyde Park Speaker's Corner that never happened under Assad's power. Men and women are arguing about the country's priorities. The men think it is not time to talk about women's rights. The women insist now is the time for every right to be discussed.

Savannah Bakli is a musician and civil society activist.

Savannah Bakli is a musician and civil society activist.

People here want to be proactive and be part of any political process and want to make sure that they are included, especially women. They don't want to be deprived of their rights. They want to be assertive that they are here and part of the future Syria. Away from the bustling square, I visit 73-year-old Yousef Abdelki, who is a renowned Syrian artist.

People here want to be proactive and be part of any political process and want to make sure that they are included, especially women. They don't want to be deprived of their rights. They want to be assertive that they are here and part of the future Syria. Away from the bustling square, I visit 73-year-old Yousef Abdelki, who is a renowned Syrian artist.

His studio is tucked off the main street, a traditional Damascene house with a water fountain centered in its courtyard. Once a prisoner of Assad's the father, he was also detained during Bashar's brutal crackdown in 2011. His work reflected the bleak reality of Syria under the regime, and a painting could get him thrown in jail, or worse, executed.

His studio is tucked off the main street, a traditional Damascene house with a water fountain centered in its courtyard. Once a prisoner of Assad's the father, he was also detained during Bashar's brutal crackdown in 2011. His work reflected the bleak reality of Syria under the regime, and a painting could get him thrown in jail, or worse, executed.

He is showing me a large portrait of Bashar al-Assad that he drew in 2012, at the height of the peaceful protests. All these years, he kept it hidden, but now that Assad is gone, he's finally able to show it to the world.

He is showing me a large portrait of Bashar al-Assad that he drew in 2012, at the height of the peaceful protests. All these years, he kept it hidden, but now that Assad is gone, he's finally able to show it to the world.

For Youssef, now it's the time for everyone in the society to contribute so the country doesn't fall into another form of dictatorship.

For Youssef, now it's the time for everyone in the society to contribute so the country doesn't fall into another form of dictatorship.

There is, you know, views of excitement that the world is coming back to Syria and acknowledging this new change, but also are hoping that these new governments focus on lifting sanctions. The country has been really crippled by economic sanctions. 90% of the population under the poverty line So having money coming in for aid for rebuilding the country is very important.