Syrian Health Minister Wael al-Halki speaks to the media at his office in Damascus, March 8, 2012. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed Health Minister Wael al-Halki as prime minister on August 9, 2012, after the defection earlier this week of Prime Minister Riyad Hijab. Halki, born in 1964, is from the southern province of Deraa where the uprising against four decades of Assad family rule erupted. He replaces caretaker premier Omar Ghalawanji who was appointed hours after Hijab's defection. Picture taken March 8, 2012. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (Syria - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Syrian Health Minister Wael al-Halki speaks to the media at his office in Damascus, April 3, 2012. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed Health Minister Wael al-Halki as prime minister on August 9, 2012, after the defection earlier this week of Prime Minister Riyad Hijab. Halki, born in 1964, is from the southern province of Deraa where the uprising against four decades of Assad family rule erupted. He replaces caretaker premier Omar Ghalawanji who was appointed hours after Hijab's defection. Picture taken April 3, 2012. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Syrian Health Minister Wael al-Halki speaks to the media at his office in Damascus, March 8, 2012. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed Health Minister Wael al-Halki as prime minister on August 9, 2012, after the defection earlier this week of Prime Minister Riyad Hijab. Halki, born in 1964, is from the southern province of Deraa where the uprising against four decades of Assad family rule erupted. He replaces caretaker premier Omar Ghalawanji who was appointed hours after Hijab's defection. Picture taken March 8, 2012. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (Syria - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Syrian Health Minister Wael al-Halki sits at his office in Damascus, April 3, 2012. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed Health Minister Wael al-Halki as prime minister on August 9, 2012, after the defection earlier this week of Prime Minister Riyad Hijab. Halki, born in 1964, is from the southern province of Deraa where the uprising against four decades of Assad family rule erupted. He replaces caretaker premier Omar Ghalawanji who was appointed hours after Hijab's defection. Picture taken April 3, 2012. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Syrian Health Minister Wael al-Halki speaks to the media at his office in Damascus, April 3, 2012. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed Health Minister Wael al-Halki as prime minister on August 9, 2012, after the defection earlier this week of Prime Minister Riyad Hijab. Halki, born in 1964, is from the southern province of Deraa where the uprising against four decades of Assad family rule erupted. He replaces caretaker premier Omar Ghalawanji who was appointed hours after Hijab's defection. Picture taken April 3, 2012. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

Syrian Health Minister Wael al-Halki speaks to the media at his office in Damascus, March 8, 2012. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed Health Minister Wael al-Halki as prime minister on August 9, 2012, after the defection earlier this week of Prime Minister Riyad Hijab. Halki, born in 1964, is from the southern province of Deraa where the uprising against four decades of Assad family rule erupted. He replaces caretaker premier Omar Ghalawanji who was appointed hours after Hijab's defection. Picture taken March 8, 2012. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (Syria - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST HEADSHOT)

Mohammed Atari, spokesman of Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Hijab, speaks to reporters in Amman August 6, 2012. Hijab has defected to the opposition seeking to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a spokesman for Hijab said on Monday, marking one of the highest profile desertions from the Damascus government. REUTERS/Majed Jaber (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MEDIA)

Governor of al-Qunatara city and former agriculture minister Riyad Hijab is seen in al-Qunatara in this February 15, 2011 file photo. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad named Hijab as prime minister on Wednesday June 6, 2012, to form a new government after last month's parliamentary election, state television said. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri/Files (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST HEADSHOT)

Governor of al-Qunatara city and former agriculture minister Riyad Hijab is seen in al-Qunatara in this February 15, 2011 file photo. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad named Hijab as prime minister on Wednesday June 6, 2012, to form a new government after last month's parliamentary election, state television said. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri/Files (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST HEADSHOT)