Syrian minister survives assassination attempt

Damascus – Syria’s National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar has survived an assassination attempt, a media report said Saturday.

Haidar’s convoy was attacked on the Misyaf-Qadmous road in central Syria. The minister escaped unscathed while his driver died in the ambush, reports Xinhua.

Haidar’s son was killed last year on the same road by opposition rebels.

A number of Syrian officials have been killed or targeted during the long-standing crisis in the war-torn country.

Haidar’s ministry was formed to achieve reconciliation between the warring sides in the conflict.

Haidar, 51, served as the leader of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. Since June 2011, he has become the minister of state for national reconciliation affairs.