Syrian President Bashar Assad on Thursday called on the newly appointed government ministers to fight corruption, comparing its implications to those of terrorism.
On Monday, Assad carried out a cabinet reshuffle, changing nine ministers. Notably, the new interior minister was appointed to replace Mohammad Shaar, who had been in the position since the early days of the Syrian crisis, and the Directorate of the National Reconciliation was created to substitute the Ministry of the Interior. Moreover, Assad appointed the new mayor of Damascus. On Thursday, the new cabinet ministers were sworn in in the presence of the president.