Syria's Assad sacks PM Khamis as economic crisis grows

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday sacked his prime minister of four years, as the country grapples with a stinging economic crisis and renewed protests.

"President Assad issues decree number 143 for year 2020, which relieves the prime minister Imad Muhammad Dib Khamis of his position," the presidency said in a statement.

Khamis, 58, had been Syria's prime minister since 2016.

He is replaced by Water Resources Minister Hussein Arnous for an interim period leading to legislative polls set for next month.

"Assad assigns... Hussein Arnous the duties of prime minister as well as his (other) duties," the presidency said.

"The government is continuing with its work until a new parliament is elected."

Like Khamis, incoming premier Arnous has for several years been the target of US and European Union sanctions.

Parliamentary polls had been due in Syria earlier this year, but were postponed twice due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The new date set last month is July 19.

Khamis' sacking follows sharp criticism of his government over its handling of the economic crisis.

Syria's economy has been battered by nine years of war compounded by a financial crisis in neighbouring Lebanon, which had served as a conduit to bring dollars into government-held areas despite international sanctions.

In recent days, the value of the Syrian pound on the black market has tumbled from one record low to the next.