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Cabinet Shift Within Syria Seems Aimed at Economy Cabinet Shift Within Syria Seems Aimed at Economy
(about 3 hours later)
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — President Bashar al-Assad of Syria reshuffled his cabinet on Saturday, appointing seven new ministers, the state news media said, in a move that appeared aimed at shoring up an economy that has been ravaged by the two-year-old revolt against his government.DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — President Bashar al-Assad of Syria reshuffled his cabinet on Saturday, appointing seven new ministers, the state news media said, in a move that appeared aimed at shoring up an economy that has been ravaged by the two-year-old revolt against his government.
State television said that Mr. Assad had replaced the heads of ministries that focus on the economy — including the Finance and Agriculture Ministries and those relating to oil and labor. Critical security ministries like defense and interior, which are on the front lines of the civil war, remained unchanged.State television said that Mr. Assad had replaced the heads of ministries that focus on the economy — including the Finance and Agriculture Ministries and those relating to oil and labor. Critical security ministries like defense and interior, which are on the front lines of the civil war, remained unchanged.
The fighting has left major cities in ruins and has gutted the nation’s industries. Power failures are common, and Syrians in some areas must wait for hours in lines for bread and gasoline.The fighting has left major cities in ruins and has gutted the nation’s industries. Power failures are common, and Syrians in some areas must wait for hours in lines for bread and gasoline.
The reshuffling was announced as fighting in Damascus and its suburbs raged for a fourth consecutive day, with clashes focused in southern and northeastern neighborhoods of the capital.The reshuffling was announced as fighting in Damascus and its suburbs raged for a fourth consecutive day, with clashes focused in southern and northeastern neighborhoods of the capital.
Rebels brought their fight within a mile of the heart of Damascus on Friday, seizing army checkpoints and blocking an important highway with a row of burning tires as they pressed their campaign for the city, the seat of Mr. Assad’s power. Rebels brought their fight within a mile of the heart of Damascus on Friday, seizing army checkpoints and blocking an important highway with a row of burning tires as they pressed their campaign for the city.
The government controls movement in and out of the heavily defended city with a network of checkpoints, and rebels have failed in the past to make significant inroads and hold them.The government controls movement in and out of the heavily defended city with a network of checkpoints, and rebels have failed in the past to make significant inroads and hold them.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an anti-Assad group based in Britain, reported intense air raids on several Damascus suburbs on Saturday, including Zamalka and Douma, and near a major highway that leads to the capital. It added that troops shelled the northeastern neighborhoods of Jobar and Qaboun that have seen fighting and shelling since Thursday.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an anti-Assad group based in Britain, reported intense air raids on several Damascus suburbs on Saturday, including Zamalka and Douma, and near a major highway that leads to the capital. It added that troops shelled the northeastern neighborhoods of Jobar and Qaboun that have seen fighting and shelling since Thursday.
A man who lives near Jobar said he fled Friday with his family to a safer area near central Damascus. “It was a bad day,” he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “We heard lots of explosions.”A man who lives near Jobar said he fled Friday with his family to a safer area near central Damascus. “It was a bad day,” he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “We heard lots of explosions.”
The civil war has heavily damaged infrastructure like oil pipelines, bridges and water and power stations. The airport in Syria’s largest city and commercial hub, Aleppo, is closed because of fighting, and the exchange rate for one American dollar is around 95 Syrian pounds on the black market, more than double the 47 pounds to the dollar when the crisis began in March 2011. The war has heavily damaged infrastructure like oil pipelines, bridges and power stations. The airport in the largest city, Aleppo, is closed because of fighting, and the exchange rate for one American dollar is around 95 Syrian pounds on the black market, more than double its rate when the crisis began in March 2011.
The presidential decrees issued Saturday appeared to be an attempt to address some of the fallout — economic and social — from the civil war.The presidential decrees issued Saturday appeared to be an attempt to address some of the fallout — economic and social — from the civil war.
The order split what used to be the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs into two posts, apparently to give the new Ministry of Social Affairs responsibility for the rising number of people who have fled from one part of the country to another to escape the fighting.The order split what used to be the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs into two posts, apparently to give the new Ministry of Social Affairs responsibility for the rising number of people who have fled from one part of the country to another to escape the fighting.
Syria’s civil war has settled into a bloody stalemate that shows no signs of stopping, despite several tentative proposals from both sides to find a diplomatic resolution.Syria’s civil war has settled into a bloody stalemate that shows no signs of stopping, despite several tentative proposals from both sides to find a diplomatic resolution.
Syria’s information minister, Omran al-Zoubi, floated the latest proposal late Friday, saying that Damascus was ready for dialogue with the opposition, as long as the rebels laid down their weapons. He said anyone who responds will not be harmed.Syria’s information minister, Omran al-Zoubi, floated the latest proposal late Friday, saying that Damascus was ready for dialogue with the opposition, as long as the rebels laid down their weapons. He said anyone who responds will not be harmed.
The offer is unlikely to gain much traction. The rebels deeply distrust the government, and most groups are unlikely to stop fighting as long as Mr. Assad remains president. The offer is unlikely to gain much traction, as the rebels deeply distrust the government.