ROME (Kyodo) -- The Group of Seven nations on Thursday said they are ready to support an inclusive political transition process in Syria after rebels toppled the Syrian government earlier this week.

The leaders said in a statement they would back a framework that would lead to "credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governance," and noted that the regime under President Bashar al-Assad would have to be held accountable for its crimes.

The group would fully support a future Syrian government as long as the transition ensures "respect for the rule of law, universal human rights, including women's rights, the protection of all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities, transparency and accountability," they said.

Syrian rebel fighters seized Syria's capital on Sunday and Assad fled the country, ending his family's iron-fisted rule of the country that spanned over half a century. Syria has been in the midst of a civil war since 2011.