DAMASCUS, MARCH 8: The Syrian Cabinet resigned on Tuesday and President Hafez Assad named a new Prime Minister.The move marks the first major government reshuffle since 1992 and comes after media reports predicting the reshuffle for the past few weeks.Assad named Mohammed Mustafa Miro, the governor of Aleppo province, as the new Prime Minister, said presidential spokesman Jibran Kourieh.It was not clear whether the new government would include Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa, who is in charge of the Mideast peace talks. Media reports had speculated that he would be the new Prime Minister."The President has asked the outgoing government to continue its work until the new government is formed," Kourieh said.The 37-member Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Mahmoudel-Zouebi, submitted the resignation, which was accepted by Assad.The new government, which will be named later, is seen as a move by Assad to improve his working team in an effort to press ahead with promised social and economic reforms. It also reflects the leadership's desire to inject new blood in the aging Cabinet as the country struggles to modernize its stale administration and eradicate rampant corruption.The composition of the new government would also have a direct bearing on Syria's peace talks with Israel.Talk of a government shake-up in Syria has been going on for years. The rumors were fueled following a speech by Assad upon his re-election for a fifth seven-year term in a national referendum last year, in which he hinted at his dissatisfaction with the government's performance.
