BBC News, 14 April 2011
Syria Crisis
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- Assad speech offers little new
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- Syria's long history of dissent
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has formed a new government under recently-appointed Prime Minister Adel Safar, state media have announced.
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| President Assad blames the violence in Syria on armed gangs and has vowed to stifle further dissent |
The previous government resigned after protests calling for reform broke out last month in a number of cities.
About 200 people have died in the protests against President Assad's rule and hundreds more have been arrested.
State TV also said that many people detained over the protests would be released. The exact number was unclear.
"The president has decided to free all those held against the backdrop of recent events, except those who committed criminal acts against the homeland and its citizens," state TV said.
'Snipers'
The unrest is seen as the biggest challenge to Mr Assad, who inherited power from his father in 2000.
Human rights campaigners say hundreds of people across Syria have been arrested, including opposition figures, bloggers and activists.
On Thursday, state media reported that snipers had fatally shot a soldier and wounded another as they patrolled the coastal city of Baniyas.
At least 13 people, including nine soldiers, were killed in clashes during anti-government demonstrations there on Sunday.
Dozens more have reportedly been injured in Baniyas in clashes with security forces since then.
Mr Assad blames the violence over the last month on armed gangs rather than reform-seekers and has vowed to put down further unrest.
Mr Safar was appointed prime minister after the government of Naji al-Otari resigned on 29 March.
Mr Safar was agriculture minister under the former prime minister.
Intelligence official Ibrahim al-Shaar was named interior minister and Mohammad al-Jililati, head of the Damascus Stock Exchange, was appointed finance minister, Reuters news agency said, quoting the official government list.
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