US removes Syria president from terror list before visit

WASHINGTON - The United States on Friday formally removed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa from a terrorism blacklist, days before the former jihadist is set to make a landmark visit to Washington.

The move announced by the State Department was widely expected as Sharaa cooperates with the United States, and comes a day after Washington led a vote by the Security Council to remove UN sanctions on him.

"These actions are being taken in recognition of the progress demonstrated by the Syrian leadership after the departure of Bashar al-Assad and more than 50 years of repression under the Assad regime," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement.

He said that Sharaa's government was meeting US demands including on working to find missing Americans and eliminating any remaining chemical weapons.

Sharaa, once linked to Al-Qaeda, had been considered a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" by the United States, which once put a bounty on his head.

Sharaa's forces, backed by Turkey and Gulf Arab powers, swept to power nearly a year ago ina lightning offensive.

Sharaa will visit the White House on Monday as President Donald Trump promises to help the new Syria. US ally Israel initially opposed the overtures and has heavily bombed Syria since Assad's fall in hopes of weakening its historic adversary.