Assad Appoints Wael al-Halqi as New Syrian Premier
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
President Bashar Assad has appointed Wael al-Halqi as Syria's new premier, state television reported on Thursday.
"The president has signed Decree 298, appointing Wael al-Halqi as the new prime minister," the broadcaster reported.
Health Minister Halqi was appointed to replace Riad Hijab, whose defection to the opposition was announced on Monday.
Hijab's was the highest-level defection from Assad's regime since the outbreak of a revolt almost 17 months ago. The defected premier arrived on Wednesday morning in Jordan with his family, according to Jordanian Information Minister Samih Maayatah.
"Hijab and members of his family entered Jordan during the early hours of Wednesday," Maayatah told Agence France Presse without elaborating.
09 August 2012, 15:08
38
The latest First Mate on the Titanic. He even looks like he is threatened.
09 August 2012, 15:09
28
He looks worried, even before his appointment. How to you spell "defection"?
09 August 2012, 15:11
35
The ease with which Assad puts new faces into these various positions only points up that the "government" of Syria is and has been a complete sham. It is a cover for the Assad gang that actually is in control of the state and its institutions.
This guy will probably defect too, but so what. Assad will get another face to put in the chair. What does he do anyway?? Nothing. Its all done by family members.
09 August 2012, 15:21
05
He doesn't look happy for the new position, or healthy to stay in the old post.
09 August 2012, 15:58
00
He is not a military man in the field....Only high ranked employee to manage the cabinet...It deosn't mean anaything on the ground let him go...
umm sorry I got ahead of myself
09 August 2012, 16:20
00
You forgot the green feathers coming out of his head, is he some kind of human bird hybrid?
09 August 2012, 16:41
12
Oh well I' m sure you don't look much better FT... your good friend Bashar is going down!
10 August 2012, 00:02
00
Probably his entire family is under custody right now and will remain there.
