The appointment comes on the eve of large rallies planned by Syrian anti-government activists.

Homs has seen violent confrontations as Syrian security forces cracked down on anti-government protesters over the past weeks. At least 12 protesters were killed over the weekend and several others died Tuesday when forces fired on hundreds of people staging a sit-in.

President Bashar Assad sacked the Homs governor on April 7, in an overture to the mass protests that have threatened his grip on power.

Syria’s state news agency said on Thursday that Ghassan Abdul-Al was appointed as the new Homs governor.