Syrian President Bashar Assad issued a decree forming a new government yesterday, but it will be headed by a key loyalist and the foreign, defense and interior ministers kept their jobs.
This came as at least 40 people were killed in violence across Syria, the majority by regime forces who shelled rebel bastions and clashed with fighters in several areas.
Turkey will take retaliatory steps against Syria for the downing of one of its military jets, President Abdullah Gul said yesterday, even as he suggested that the aircraft may have violated Syrian airspace.
Turkey’s Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Celik said Turkey would retaliate “either in the diplomatic field or give other types of response. The incident is unacceptable.”
A volunteer with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent was shot and killed while on first aid duty in Deir El-Zor.
Please read full story on Page 6