Damascus, Sept 19: New Syrian Prime Minister Naji al-Otari formed a 31-member cabinet today whose priority will be the economic and bureaucratic reform of the socialist-style country, Syria's official news agency reported. The new cabinet is seen as a bid to expedite the reforms that President Bashar Assad promised after he succeeded his father, the late Hafez Assad, more than three years ago. But there was little indication the new government would reform the country's political system, which is tightly controlled, as human rights activists have demanded. Seventeen new faces, are in the new cabinet, including the prime minister, who is the former parliamentary Speaker, and two women.
Another 14 ministers have stayed on from the government of departing Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa Miro.
The key foreign ministry was retained by Farouk al-Sharaa, who has been foreign minister since 1984. Defence Minister Maj. Gen. Mustafa Tlass and Commerce Minister Ghassan Rifai also kept their posts.
President Assad is expected to hold an oath-taking ceremony for the new cabinet in the next few days.
Bureau Report