Syrian president appoints new PM

(Beirut) – Syria’s president, Bashar ul Assad has appointed Riad Farid Hijab as new Prime Minister, following last month’s parliamentary elections. Riad Farid Hijab is a member of the ruling Baath party and was previously working as the agriculture minister.
President Bashar Assad touted the May 7 elections as an example of the reforms he’s bringing to the country. But the opposition boycotted the vote and said it was orchestrated by the regime to strengthen Assad’s grip on power.