Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree Sunday appointing a new cabinet headed by Hussein Arnous without changing the heads of sovereign portfolios.
The decree, published on the presidency's social media channels, keeps the heads of the foreign affairs, defense, interior, economy and information ministries in their posts but changes those in charge of 12 other cabinet portfolios, including the ministries of finance, energy and public health.
The Arnous-led government, which includes three female ministers, is the fifth to be formed since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011.
Assad on Tuesday named Arnous as prime minister after he was appointed interim prime minister in June ahead of last month's parliamentary polls.
The current government will continue its work until next July, which is the expected date for the next presidential elections, after which it vows to resign and relegate itself as a caretaker govt. until a presidential decree is issued to name a new premier, according to Article 125 of the Syrian constitution.
