Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Syrian President Issues Amnesty To His Opponents

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. © RIA Novosti. Sergei Guneev

Syria's Assad Offers Amnesty To Political Prisoners -- Christian Science Monitor

Assad's conciliatory gesture is unlikely to halt the momentum of Syria's opposition, which is meeting in Turkey to discuss a transition to democracy.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in a clear conciliatory gesture to anti-regime protesters following weeks of brutal suppression by his security forces, announced Tuesday a general amnesty for all “crimes” committed before May 31.

According to Syrian TV, the amnesty will apply to all political prisoners as well as to the banned Muslim Brotherhood. More than 1,000 people have died and 10,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks as part of a crackdown by the Syrian authorities to stamp out an unprecedented uprising that has shaken Mr. Assad’s 11-year hold on power. There was no immediate word on when the detainees would begin to be released.

Read more ....

More News On Syria's Amnesty Offer To Its Political Prisoners

Syrian president issues amnesty
-- Al Jazeera
Syrian president declares general amnesty -- RIA Novosti
Syrian Leader Bids for Calm With Amnesty -- New York Times
Syrian President Offers Opponents General Amnesty -- Voice of America
Assad Orders Release of Political Detainees, Syrian State Television Says -- Bloomberg
Syria decrees general amnesty, opposition says too little -- AFP
Syria: Bashar al-Assad 'grants general amnesty' -- BBC

My Comment: This offer of amnesty is not going to fly .... especially when stories like this one are being circulated.

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