Shara, guarantees individual freedoms but gives Mr. al-Shara abundant power and keeps Islamic law as its legal foundation.

Syria's interim President Ahmad Al Shara on Thursday signed the country's constitutional declaration, which will be enforced throughout a five-year transitional period. Mr Al Shara said he hoped the constitutional declaration would mark the start of "a new history for Syria,

The document, regarded as an "interim constitution," specifies that the president's religion is Islam and that Islamic law is the main source of his legislation. It also addresses key issues such as the separation of powers, judicial independence, and guarantees for women's rights, freedom of expression, and freedom of the press.

More than 1,000 people have been killed in clashes in the coastal provinces of Syria, according to one war monitoring group.

Syria’s interim president has signed a temporary constitution that leaves the country under Islamist rule for five years during a transitional phase

The document enshrines separation of powers and guarantees women's rights, freedom of expression and media freedom.