The UN envoy to Syria called on Wednesday for “free and fair” elections after the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad, as he voiced hope for a political solution for Kurdish-held areas.Al-Assad fled Syria following a lightning offensive spearheaded by the “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” (HTS) group, more than 13 years after his crackdown on democracy protests precipitated one of the deadliest wars of the century.He left behind a country scarred by decades of torture, disappearances and summary executions, and the collapse of his rule on December 8 stunned the world and sparked celebrations around Syria and beyond.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Years of civil war have also left the country heavily dependent on aid, deeply fragmented, and desperate for justice and peace.Addressing reporters in Damascus, UN special envoy Geir Pedersen said “there is a lot of hope that we can now see the beginning of a new Syria.”“A new Syria that... will adopt a