Syrian President sacks key governor

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syria's President, Bashar Assad delivers a speech in Damascus, Syria, Monday, June 20, 2011. Syria's embattled president says "saboteurs" are trying to exploit legitimate demands for reform in the country. President Bashar Assad's speech Monday was only his third public address since the country's uprising began in March. What is happening today has nothing to do with reform, it has to do with vandalism," Assad told a crowd of supporters at Damascus University. "There can be no development without stability, and no reform through vandalism. ... We have to isolate the saboteurs." (AP Photo/SANA) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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.