DAMASCUS, Syria, June 26 (UPI) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad presided over the first session of his new Cabinet Tuesday, telling ministers the country was at war.
Assad called on ministers to reach out to civilians in an effort to maintain transparency. The Syrian Arab News Agency reported he also placed an emphasis on rebuilding infrastructure, establishing equality in Syria's poorest regions and spearheading reform.
"We are here to work … . We have to possess an economic mentality with a clear vision," he told the Cabinet.
Meanwhile, authorities clashed with armed insurgents in al-Hameh, in the Damascus countryside.
SANA said that after attacking civilians and law enforcement, several opposition fighters, which the state-run news agency refers to as terrorists, were killed and many more were injured. Authorities arrested many insurgents, seizing sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and a large quantity of ammunition.
Authorities engaged opposition fighters in Lattakai, Douma and Hama, making several arrests, including 35 suspects who surrendered to officers in Homs and Lattakai, SANA said.
