Ammon News - A signed picture of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip has been found among the souvenirs in the packed "treasure room" of ousted Syrian leader Bashar al Assad.

Rebel fighters discovered the photo in the dictator's so-called "People's Palace" on the edge of Syrian capital Damascus.

The picture is hand-signed and dated 2002 - the same year Assad and his wife visited the royals in Buckingham Palace.

The visit took place two years after Assad took over as Syria's president - before he became a pariah for his brutal crackdown on the pro-democracy Arab Spring protests of 2011 and the civil war that followed.

Other keepsakes found in the packed treasure room included gold and silver shields, ornaments and artwork, numerous boxes and chests, and a FIFA award for the world youth championships.

A rug with Assad's face on and multiple pictures of his wife turned up elsewhere as rebel fighters ransacked the palace's many rooms.

A garage full of dozens of luxury cars, including a rare Ferrari worth about £3m, was also uncovered this week.

Sky News