Pakistan, Sept. 20 -- Syrian singer Assala Nasri has made a triumphant return to Damascus with a sold-out concert following 15 years of exile due to her opposition to ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad.

Thousands of fans welcomed the 57-year-old, known mononymously as Assala, at a venue in the Syrian capital where she bowed and opened the show with songs hailing the Syrian people.

"Souls of my heart, I missed you," she repeatedly said to endless cheers on Thursday night. "My loves, my people, I swear, until this moment I could not believe that I am among you. I want to tell you how much I dreamt of this."

There was a heavy security presence for the concert, after some religious conservatives launched a campaign calling for its cancellation. ...