Syria’s Assad appoints 3 new ministers

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a surprise decree Thursday appointing three new ministers, state television said, in a reshuffle following the defection of his former premier Riad Hijab to Jordan . According the presidential decree Saad Abdussalam al-Nayef was appointed health minister, replacing Wael al-Halqi, who became prime minister a week ago after his predecessor defected to join the rebellion. Dr Adnan Abdu as-Sahni was named to the industry ministry and Najem Hamad al-Ahmad was appointed justice minister. State television did not elaborate on why their predecessors were removed.