DAMASCUS/TEHRAN, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appointed Health Minister Wael al-Halki as the new prime minister on Thursday, as Iran held an international consultative meeting to find a way to help ease the tensions in Syria.

Halki, a 48-year-old gynecologist, acted as secretary-general of the Baath party's branch in the southern Daraa province between 2000 and 2004. He was appointed as head of the doctors' syndicate in 2010 and later served as health minister.

Former prime minister Riyad Hijab, who was recently sacked by Assad after only serving in office for less than two months, fled to Jordan on Wednesday, which, many experts said, was a humiliating blow to the Syrian government.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army started a ground operation and entered several key districts in the northern Aleppo city.

Hundreds of armed insurgents were killed and their hideouts in the most troublesome Salahuddien district were knocked out.

But the rebels denied the government's full control of the area, saying they had launched a counter-attack.

Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar stressed his country's resolve to counter terrorism "wherever located in the country" during a meeting with visiting a UN under-secretary-general for safety and security.

"As a state, we are committed to protect our people from those killers that are committing homicide, kidnapping and robbery," Shaar said.

Meanwhile, a four-hour international meeting, attracting diplomats from over 20 countries notably including Russia, China and Iraq, was held in Tehran to find an exit out of the current Syrian crisis.

However, the conference was dismissed by Washington, who accused Iran of aiding Assad in killing his people.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi, at a press conference after the meeting, said the peace plan for Syria put forward by former UN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is still alive although he had resigned from the post.

He said the participants to the meeting expressed "serious concern over the continuation of clashes and violation of human rights in Syria" and rejected any foreign intervention.

He added the discussions focused on a ceasefire for Syria, humanitarian aid, and preparing the ground for national dialogue.

The meeting agreed to establish a contact group on Syria that would hold another meeting at a time and place to be notified.

The foreign minister also said the biggest obstacle hindering a peaceful solution to the Syrian problem is foreign intervention.

However, White House spokesman Jay Carney hit out at Iran's role in Syria when asked whether the conference was credible or helpful.

"There is vast evidence that demonstrates that Iran has been engaged in an effort to prop up Assad as he brutally murders his own people," Carney said.

But some U.S. political experts said the West should instead appreciate Iran's attempts in trying to resolve the conflict.

"Because of their (Iran's) relationship with Assad, they can help steer him towards a better outcome of the situation now or even help stop some of the conflict that's happening within the country," said Patricia DeGennaro, a New York University professor.

The Iranian foreign minister also said the abducted Iranians in Syria on Saturday are from all walks of life.

However, he admitted some of them may have retired from the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) or from other Iranian governmental departments.

A total of 48 Iranian pilgrims were abducted by militants in the Syrian capital Damascus. The Syrian opposition claimed the abductees were members of the Iranian army and IRGC. Enditem