Syria Premier defects citing ‘genocide’

Syria’s Prime Minister, Riad Hijab, and three other ministers, have defected, Al Jazeera reported on Monday.

Syrian state television had earlier reported that Mr Hijab had been sacked. The Syrian Ministry of Information refused to comment on the possible defection.

Damascus later announced that First Deputy Prime Minister Omar Ghalwanji would temporarily head the government.

Meanwhile, a Jordanian government official said on Monday the ex—Syrian Prime Minister has defected to Jordan with his family.

Bomb blast in state TV building

Syrian state-run television says a bomb has ripped through the third floor of the state TV building in Damascus.

The report says at least three people were wounded in Monday’s bomb attack targeting the building which also houses the country’s state radio. The building is located at the Umawiyyeen roundabout in downtown Damascus.

The Syrian capital has seen a string of suicide attacks and other bombings in the past few months as the country’s civil war has escalated.

A pro-government private Syrian TV station, Al-Ikhbariya, showed pictures of employees inspecting damages in the TV building and tending to a wounded colleague. The Syrian state TV remained on air.