Syria's Assad forms new cabinet after protests

Syria's President Bashar Assad formed a new government on Thursday, state news agency SANA said, in a move to appease protesters calling for reforms.

The new government is headed by Adel Safar who served as agriculture minister in the government of Naji al-Otari which resigned on March 29, more than a week after protests broke out in the southern city of Deraa and spread to other parts of the country. (Reuters)