Syrian Baath Party Announces Leadership Changes

Assad still secretary general

Syria's ruling Baath party, headed by the country's embattled President Bashar al-Assad, has announced that its top leadership would be replaced, including Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa.

The party's central committee "held a lengthy meeting … on Monday morning," at which "a new national leadership was chosen", the Baath party website said.

It published the names of 16 members of the new leadership, which included none of the party's old chiefs with the exception of Assad.

The website said Assad would remain the party's secretary general. 

Sharaa, who has been Syria's vice president since 2006, will remain in office despite his removal from the party leadership.