Bashar al-Assad reported to have fled Syria as rebels say they have captured Damascus

Celebrations on streets of Syrian cities as as Assad regime appears to have fallen

• Live updates: celebrations reported in Damascus as rebels claim capital

The Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, is believed to have fled the country his family has ruled over for 50 years as rebels said they had captured the capital after a lightning advance completed in just under two weeks.

Two senior Syrian officers told Reuters that Assad had fled Damascus, his destination unknown. The report could not be independently verified.