Syrian deputy PM dismissed after US talks
Syria's deputy prime minister, Qadri Jamil, was dismissed on Tuesday for leaving the country and acting without government permission after meeting met US officials in Switzerland, state media said. The sacked minister is a member of what President Bashar Assad calls the "patriotic opposition" - political parties that consider themselves rivals to the president but have not joined the 2-1/2-year revolt against his rule.
"Jamil was dismissed because he left his center of work without prior permission and did not follow up on his duties..." said a statement posted on Syria TV. (Reuters)
