BEIJING, Aug. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- ’s state TV says government troops have killed 25 armed insurgents who attacked a power plant in northern Aleppo province. Earlier, a Jordanian government spokesman denied that Syria’s former Prime Minister who defected on Monday, was in Jordan.

Syria’s state-run television has shown the government in session just hours after the defection of former Prime Minister Riyad Hijab was announced.

The cabinet was led by the newly-appointed caretaker Prime Minister Omar Ghalawanji who was formerly a deputy prime minister.

Hijab defected to the opposition that is seeking to overthrow the government of President Bashar al-Assad, marking one of the highest profile desertions from Damascus. Hijab is not part of Assad’s inner circle, but as the most senior serving civilian official to defect, his departure has dealt a symbolic blow to the government.

(Source: CNTV.cn)