Syrian government changes cabinet

Assad confirmed the 34-minister strong cabinet, in which Prime Minister Wael Nader al-Halqi, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, Defense Minister Fahd Jassem al-Freij, Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar, Presidential Affairs Minister Mansour Fadlallah Azzam and Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi kept their places. In the elections Assad received some 88 percent of votes, giving him a third term in office. Syria's civil war has resulted in the deaths of more than 191,369 people since it began more than three years ago.