Syrian govt changes cabinet
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad confirmed the new cabinet established after controversial June 3 elections.
A new cabinet in Syria was formed after President Bashar al-Assad's confirmation after June 3's presidential elections deemed a farce by the international community.
Assad confirmed the 34-minister strong cabinet, in which Prime Minister Wael Nader al-Halqi, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, Defense Minister Fahd Jassem al-Freij, Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar, Presidential Affairs Minister Mansour Fadlallah Azzam and Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi kept their places.
In the elections Assad received some 88 percent of votes, giving him a third term in office.
Syria's civil war has resulted in the deaths of more than 191,369 people since it began more than three years ago.
www.aa.com.tr/en