Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Omar Ghalawanji was named head of Syria’s caretaker government on Monday according to state-run television.

Syrian Deputy Prime Minister Omar Ghalawanji (Photo: Internet)

The move came after the sacking of the incumbent Prime Minister Riyad Hijab.  Quatar-based Al Jazeera television reported that Hijab had defected and fled to Jordan with his family following a plan of The Free Syrian Army (FSA). Finance Minister Mohammed Jlailati was quick to deny rumors that he had been arrested by the army. He told a Syrian television station that this was a scheme to split the Damacus administration.

Iran will host a ministerial meeting on Syria on August 9 with the participation of foreign ministers from 12 countries. Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will attend the extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Mecca.