Syria's new leader and Lebanon's prime minister have pledged to build lasting ties during the first visit by a Lebanese head of government to Damascus since the start of the civil war in 2011. Prime Minister Najib Mikati's trip came after Islamist-led rebels seized Damascus last month, bringing an end to the rule of Bashar al-Assad. Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said he hoped to turn over a new leaf in relations, days after crisis-hit Lebanon finally elected a president this week following two years of deadlock. Mikati said new ties should be based on 'mutual respect, equality and national sovereignty'.