Syria replaces intelligence chief

[emad]

BBC Breaking

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has appointed his brother-in-law as head of military intelligence, reports quote Syrian sources as saying.

Brig Gen Asef Shawkat replaced Gen Hassan Khalil, who had reportedly reached retirement age.

Syrian sources said the appointment could suggest Mr Assad is consolidating his hold over the security services.

The move comes amid claims of Syrian involvement in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4277595.stm

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Interesting timing

This could mean many things, but as most events in the Middle East it it difficult to take the explanation at face value.

There has been much talk in the wake of the Hariri assassination that Assad is not really in charge of the Syrian government. One might speculate that the assassination was a job carried out by Syrian intelligence without Assad's approval or even necessarily his knowledge. Replacing the intelligence chief with his brother-in-law looks like a way to get a better handle on things.

[Turley]

2. "Reached retirement age"

That's a new one.