Syrian president makes minor Cabinet changes

Syria's official news agency said President Bashar Assad has named a new minister of expatriates as part of a Cabinet reshuffle. It said State Minister Joseph Sweid will take the post, replacing Buthaina Shaaban. Wednesday's report said Shaaban will be a presidential adviser for political and media affairs. Assad's last Cabinet reshuffle was in December 2007, when he replaced the communications and religious affairs ministers.