Syrian prez sacks governor

In this June 20, 2011 photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syria's President Bashar Assad delivers a speech in Damascus. Photo: AP

Syrian President Bashar Assad has sacked the governor of a key central city in the latest attempt to appease an uprising against his authoritarian rule.

State-run SANA news agency announced on Saturday that Mr. Assad has fired the governor of Hama. The statement gave no details or reason for the sacking.

Hama has seen one of the deadliest government crackdowns during more than three months of protests against the Assad family’s 40-year dynasty.

The President has offered vague promises of reform while unleashing his army and security services the crush the protests. The growing death toll has fuelled the uprising.

Activists say the regime has killed more than 1,400 people -- mostly unarmed protesters -- since mid-March, but the government disputes that toll.read more...