Russia said it granted_____________ Bashar al-Assad asylum as he and his family landed in Moscow after rebels took control of Damascus, forcing the long-time Syrian President to ___________his country.

For 1st blank- While words like "exiled" and "deposed" may seem plausible, "ousted" is the most accurate here. "Exiled" means forced to live outside one's country, but it doesn't directly imply being removed from power. "Deposed" implies removal from office, but it often lacks the immediacy of a rebellion's success. Similarly, for the 2nd blank, "Flee" is the most contextually accurate choice because it indicates urgency and escape. Words like "forsake" and "renounce" imply a voluntary action, and "abscond" usually refers to leaving secretly to avoid detection or punishment, which doesn't align with the situation described. Russia said it granted ousted Bashar al-Assad asylum as he and his family landed in Moscow after rebels took control of Damascus, forcing the long-time Syrian President to flee his country.