It was not immediately clear if a replacement was found for Shara or if the appointment was part of an expected new government, which has been under discussion as political and economic pressures mounted on Syria in recent months.

“Mr Shara will be responsible for executing foreign and media policy under the directions of the president,” the SANA agency said.

Shara, who has a degree in English literature from the University of Damascus, has been foreign minister since 1984.

Syria has two vice president positions. Assad had left the two posts vacant since last year, when Abdel-Halim Khaddam resigned before defecting to Paris months later.