Syrian president appoints new prime minister

BEIRUT - The Associated Press

AFP Photo

Syria's president has appointed a new prime minister following last month's parliamentary elections.

The new prime minister is Riad Farid Hijab, a member of the ruling Baath party. His appointment was announced today. He was previously the agriculture minister.

President Bashar Assad touted the May 7 elections as an example of the reforms he's bringing to the country.

But the opposition boycotted the vote and said it was orchestrated by the regime to strengthen Assad's grip on power. Parliament is considered little more than a rubber stamp in Syria, where the president and a tight coterie of advisers hold the real power.