Hind Kabawat, a member of Syria's Christian minority and longtime Assad opponent, was named social affairs and labour minister, as Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa announced the formation of a new government late Saturday. Kabawat becomes the first woman to be appointed by Sharaa. 

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Syria interim president names new government

Sharaa has reaffirmed his commitment to "building a strong and stable state" as the new government was sworn in nearly four months after the Assad family was removed from power by Islamist rebels on December 8. 

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"The formation of a new government today is a declaration of our joint will to build a new state," al-Sharaa said in a speech marking the formation of the government. 

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A caretaker government headed by Mohammad al-Bashir was appointed in December to steer the country until a new cabinet was formed. Earlier, an announcement was initially scheduled for March 1. This month, Sharaa signed into force a constitutional declaration regulating the country's transitional period, set for five years.

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Sharaa, leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), was appointed interim president in late January. The HTS group spearheaded Assad's overthrow. 

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With a 23-member Cabinet, which is religiously and ethnically mixed, the new authorities in Damascus claimed that they would work to bring back stability to the war-torn country.  

Syria announced on Saturday that Foreign Minister Assaad al-Shaibani and Defence Minister Mourhaf Abu Qasra will retain their positions in the new government. 

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Anas Khattab, the head of general intelligence, is appointed interior minister. Raed al-Saleh, who is the leader of the White Helmets, was appointed minister of emergency situations and disasters. The White Helmets are the Syrian rescuers who worked in rebel-held areas. 

(With inputs from agencies)