Assad reshuffles Syrian cabinet

Assad is under pressure from the US and UN

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has carried out a major cabinet reshuffle, replacing the interior, economics and information ministers.

The new interior minister is Ghazi Kanaan, a former head of Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon.

The editor of the ruling party newspaper, Mahdi Dakhl-Allah, was given the information portfolio.

Syria is currently under US economic sanctions and was recently urged by the UN to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.

Correspondents said one of the key changes was at the interior ministry.

Gen Kanaan helped Syria consolidate its dominance over Lebanon by running Damascus' policy in the country for two decades.

He was recalled to the Syrian capital in October 2002.

Foreign minister stays

A reshuffle had been expected. It is just over a year since the last government was assembled under Prime Minister Naji al-Otari.

Eight ministers were replaced in all.

The new economy and commerce minister is Amer Lotfi, the manager of the state-owned cotton industry.

The other changes came in industry, health, justice, social affairs and labour, and Islamic endowments.

The portfolio of foreign affairs was retained by Farouk al-Sharaa, who has held the post since 1984.

The minister of defence, General Hassan Turkmany, also kept the position he was given by Mr Assad in May.

Mr Assad took power in 2000, after the death of his father Hafez al-Assad.