Syria's Assad appoints new security officials

A Syrian government official says President Bashar Assad has named five officials to top security posts in a reshuffle of the regime's inner circle.

One of Tuesday's appointments replaces Assad's national security chief, who died last week after being wounded in a rebel bombing that also killed three other officials. The new appointees are known regime figures, making it unlikely that the reshuffle will alter the government's efforts to defeat anti-Assad rebels. (AP)