Syria’s Assad Forms Government, Appoints 11 New Ministers

Local Editor

Syria's President Bashar Assad formed a new government in th country on Wednesday, two months after his reelection, leaving key ministries untouched as it continues to fight a brutal conflict against extremist militants.

The new line-up includes 11 new ministers, and leaves Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halaqi, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and Defense Minister General Fahd al-Freij in their posts.

The ministers of interior, justice, religious affairs, information and presidential affairs are also among those unaffected by the changes.
The new line-up includes the creation of the post of minister of administrative development, and replaces the ministers of external commerce, hydraulic resources, transport, housing, economy, communication and health among others.

Moreover, among the new faces is Hassan al-Nuri, who will become minister of administrative development after his failed election run against Assad in this year's June 3 presidential vote.

Assad won with 88.7 percent of the vote in an election which was Syria's first multi-candidate presidential contest.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team