内容摘要：Mr Parry said initial tests of the canal showed the sodium cyanide had stayed largely at the area where it went into the canal, rather than spreading through the water.

Mr Parry said initial tests of the canal showed the sodium cyanide had stayed largely at the area where it went into the canal, rather than spreading through the water.

The SDF is backed by the US and controls much of the north-east of Syria.But Turkey, which has backed al-Sharaa's group HTS, sees them as terrorists, which has raised fears of a looming confrontation.

Al-Sharaa has also met high level members of the Christian clergy. The Christian minority in Syria has long felt threatened by the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.HTS once espoused such an ideology, but al-Sharaa has for some time embraced a more moderate stance.He has stressed that he wants all communities to have a stake in Syria's future and is preparing a National Dialogue Conference to try to ensure that this process can begin.

For those who are concerned that his actions might not match his words, this apparent move to formalise the positions of some prominent foreign fighters may give them further pause for thought.The appointments appear to have been made in order to reward those fighters – whether from Syria or elsewhere – who played a significant role in the final triumph over the regime.

For the same reason, some of the remaining foreign fighters – along with their families – now seem likely to be given Syrian citizenship.

The issue is just one of many that could complicate any successful transition to a new political and social framework in Syria.That message - and sense of responsibility - hit home for him earlier this year, at the World Championships in Doha.

Speaking with the Indian diving team, he says they were surprised someone with South Asian heritage, like Kyle, was so good at diving."The coach told me about how some of the kids didn't believe it was possible. Because there's not been Indians that have been in the top six in the world before.

"It was the first time I actually thought: Hang on, it’s important to see someone that looks like you doing something."That makes you think that it's possible."