Syria’s Assad appoints new Prime Minister![]() August 9, 2012 - 16:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - President Bashar al-Assad has appointed Wael al-Halqi, former health minister, as Syria's new premier, state television reported on Thursday, August 9, AFP said. "The president has signed Decree 298, appointing Wael al-Halqi as the new prime minister," the broadcaster reported. Halqi was appointed to replace Riad Hijab, whose defection to the opposition was announced on Monday. Partner news Jorge Rafael Videla, an austere former army commander, led Argentina during the bloodiest days of its Dirty War dictatorship. According to the United Nations, April was Iraq's bloodiest month for almost five years, with 712 people killed. Reports suggest the rebel fighters may have tried to blow up the walls of the prison, which holds some 4,000 inmates. Moscow has condemned other nations for supporting rebel forces and failing to condemn what it describes as terrorist attacks on the Syrian regime. Partner news |