Students say 'feel free' after Assad's ouster

DAMASCUS:

Hundreds of students at Damascus University trampled on a statue of one of Syria's former rulers on Sunday, expressing jubilation as they returned to class a week after rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad.

"The atmosphere is extraordinary. Everyone is happy -- look at how joyful people are," said medical student Rinad Abdallah, 18.

In front of her stood a large statue of Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria after seizing power in a bloodless military coup in 1970, vandalised and brought to the ground.

"I have an old photo where I'm posing in front of the statue. Now, I'm going to pose at the same place, but without the statue," Abdallah said with glee.

Bashar al-Assad ruled from his father Hafez's death in 2000 until last week when rebels took the capital Damascus, more than 13 years after his repression of pro-democracy protests sparked Syria's civil war.

Ali Allaham, dean of the arts faculty, told AFP that courses resumed Sunday with around 80 percent of staff and "a large number" of students.

In the courtyard, hundreds of students gathered, chanting revolutionary slogans and brandishing the three-starred independence flag, a symbol of the uprising that began in 2011.

"We've waited a really long time for this moment," said Yasmine Shehab, 29, an English literature student.

Now, "there is no longer this statue that was oppressing us with its presence", she said.

"We finally feel free! We can finally say what we think without fear," added Shehab, expressing confidence in Syria's future.

"There will be a place for all the communities who will go forward, hand in hand," she said