Syrian President issues decree on forming new government

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree on forming the new government, days after confirming Hussein Arnous as the West Asian country's prime minister.

According to Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), in a decree the Syrian president on Sunday retained the ministries of foreign affairs, defense, interior, economy and information in their posts, but replaced other cabinet portfolios, including the ministries of finance, energy and public health.

The 29-minister cabinet, which includes three female ministers, is the fifth to be formed since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011.

The official mandate for the Syrian government is scheduled to expire next July at a time that presidential elections are to be held across the country.

The Syrian president named Arnous as prime minister on Tuesday after dismissing Imad Khamis, who had been at the helm of the government for the past four years.

Arnous was born in Idlib and had served in a long succession of government posts, including governor of Dayr al-Zawr province that borders Iraq, from 2009 to 2011, and Quneitra province in southern Syria in 2011.

The 67-year-old was also the minister of public works and housing from 2013 to 2018.

SS