Syrian Government ministers leave
Reports that the Syrian Prime Minister, Riyad Hijab, has been sacked, a new temporary Prime Minister appointed and as many as four Government Ministers have defected are fuelling a flurry of rumours about the current state of the Syrian Government. While army forces are shelling Aleppo in an attempt to dislodge the rebel forces, violent clashes continue in Damascus.
A kidnapping of a coachload of 48 Iranian pilgrims en route to Shiite holy sites has also raised concern as this is by far the largest abduction to have taken place and brings Iran's relationship with their Syrian allies into close focus.