Syrian president conducts minor government reshuffle amid economic crisis

DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria’s state media is reporting that President Bashar Assad has reshuffled his Cabinet, appointing new ministers to handle an economy ravaged by two years of uprising and civil war.

State TV said the ministries that were changed are those of oil, finance, social affairs, labour and agriculture. Key security ministries such as defence and interior remained unchanged.

Saturday’s announcement comes amid major shortages of fuel, electricity and bread.

The U.S. dollar today exchanges for around 95 Syrian pounds at the black market, about half its value of 47 pounds to the dollar when the crisis began in March 2011.