00:51Russia: Syrian deputy PM Jamil caught off guard by sacking
Russia: Syrian deputy PM Jamil caught off guard by sacking
Qadri Jamil, until Tuesday night the deputy Prime Minister of Syria, has been removed from his position by President Bashar al-Assad's administration, according to Syrian state television. Speaking to RT reporters on Tuesday, Jamil appeared to be caught unaware of his removal.
Asked whether he was aware of the move, Jamil said: "I haven't heard anything since entering the studio, how old are your sources?"
According to reports, Jamil was dismissed for meeting US government officials in Switzerland last week without official authorisation. The long-time political figure and leader of the People's Will Party had travelled to the country in order to negotiate plans for proposed Geneva talks between the Syrian government and militant forces.
"I have been saying for a long time that exiting the government is easier than entering it and our mere presence in the government isn't the goal," Jamil said when asked what his response would be. "We are there to achieve the political goals we promised, and that is a political solution and national dialogue. Nothing will change that."
00:51Russia: Syrian deputy PM Jamil caught off guard by sacking
Qadri Jamil, until Tuesday night the deputy Prime Minister of Syria, has been removed from his position by President Bashar al-Assad's administration, according to Syrian state television. Speaking to RT reporters on Tuesday, Jamil appeared to be caught unaware of his removal.
Asked whether he was aware of the move, Jamil said: "I haven't heard anything since entering the studio, how old are your sources?"
According to reports, Jamil was dismissed for meeting US government officials in Switzerland last week without official authorisation. The long-time political figure and leader of the People's Will Party had travelled to the country in order to negotiate plans for proposed Geneva talks between the Syrian government and militant forces.
"I have been saying for a long time that exiting the government is easier than entering it and our mere presence in the government isn't the goal," Jamil said when asked what his response would be. "We are there to achieve the political goals we promised, and that is a political solution and national dialogue. Nothing will change that."