STORY: Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa announced a transitional government on Saturday, with a woman and religious minorities among those named as ministers.
The broadened cabinet is seen as a key milestone in the transition from decades of Assad family rule and to improving Syria’s ties with the West.
In a speech, Sharaa listed out his goals for the country.
They included rebuilding Syria on a foundation of accountability, fixing economic and social issues, as well as strengthening human rights.
“I want to stress that this government is the government of change and development, a government that bears the responsibility of the people’s aspirations and hopes of a bright and sustainable future. We believe that hard and loyal work, along with cooperation between the people will be the key to achieving these goals.”
The new Sunni Islamist-led authorities have been under pressure from the West and Arab countries to form a government that is more inclusive of Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious communities.
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That pressure grew after hundreds of Alawites were killed in violence along Syria’s western coast this month.
The Assad family were members of the Alawite sect.
On Saturday, an Alawite, Yarub Badr, was appointed transportation minister.
While Hind Kabawat, a Christian woman, took her oath to become social affairs and labor minister.
Sharaa also named a Druze agriculture chief and a Kurdish education minister.
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After his group led rebels to topple the Assad regime, Sharaa became interim president in January.
He pledged to form an inclusive transitional government that would build up Syria’s gutted public institutions and run the country until it could hold elections – which he said could take up to five years.
Earlier this month, the leadership issued a constitutional declaration to serve as the foundation for the interim period.
It kept a central role for Islamic law, while guaranteeing women’s rights and freedom of expression.