New Syrian Prime Minister appointed

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad today named Wael Al-Halki as new prime minister today to replace Prime Minister Riad Hijab who defected and fled to Jordan last week. The official Television said President Assad issued a decree appointing Al-Halki as prime minister days after first deputy prime minister Omar Ghalawnji was entrusted with running the government's affairs temporarily. Born in Deraa in 1964, Halki, held the health portfolio in Hejab's government. He was the director of primary health department from1977 to 2000 in Jassim (Deraa region) and secretary of the Baathist party (Deraa branch) from 2000 to 2004. On Monday Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) announced on Monday that Hijab was relieved from his post.