Syria's Assad Tasks Energy Minister With Forming New Government

Syrian President Bashar Assad has tasked the country’s electricity minister to form a new government, the state SANA news agency reported Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Minister Imad Mohammad Deeb Khamis will form the government under degree 187, according to the news agency.

Earlier in June, Hadiya Khalaf Abbas was elected as the Speaker of the People's Council of Syria, becoming the first woman to hold the post.

Syria held parliamentary elections on April 15 with over 3,500 candidates contesting the 250 seats in Syria's parliament. Ballot stations were set up in 12 of Syria's 14 provinces, as the northern province of Raqqa was still under the control of Daesh terrorist group and the northwestern Idlib province was controlled by al-Nusra Front.

Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.