Syria's Sharaa renews pledge to 'protect minorities'

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Saturday renewed his pledge to protect minorities, after sectarian clashes left more than 700 people dead in the Druze-majority province of Sweida. "The Syrian state is committed to protecting all minorities and communities in the country... They condemn all crimes committed" in Sweida, Sharaa said in a televised speech, shortly after his office announced an "immediate ceasefire" in the southern province.