DAMASCUS, Syria, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad reshuffled the cabinet Monday changing the holders of eight portfolios, including the interior, economy, information and justice.
The official Syrian News Agency, SANA, said the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otari was reshuffled in an effort to improve public performance amid international pressures on Syria to introduce political and economic reforms.
The most important change took place in the Interior Ministry where Maj. Gen. Ali Hammoud was replaced by Maj. Gen. Ghazi Kenaan, the former chief of Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon where Syrian maintains an estimated 15,000 troops.
Amer Hosni Lutfi, an advocate of reforms and free market economy, was appointed minister of economy and trade, replacing Ghassan Rifai.
Dr. Maher Hussami was appointed minister of public health, succeeding Dr. Iyad Shatti, who held the post for almost 20 years and is a close aide to President Assad.
Ghassan Tayyara, a senior engineer, became minister of industry, and Mehdy Dakhlallah, the editor in chief of the ruling Baath Party newspaper, became minister of information.
Mohammed Ziad Ayyoubi was appointed minister of religious endowment and Diala Hajj Aref, a female minister, was give the portfolio of labor and social affairs.
