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Syrian president grants new amnesty

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly granted a new general amnesty while a huge crowd took to the streets nationwide to support the president.

 

According to Syria’s Arab News Agency (SANA), the Syrian president on Tuesday issued a decree granting a general amnesty for crimes committed before June 20.

The news agency did not elaborate further regarding the issue.

On May 31, Assad had ordered a general amnesty for all political prisoners, including Muslim Brotherhood members. Rights groups in Syria confirmed the release of hundreds of detainees.

Meanwhile, Syrian people rallied on Tuesday in central Damascus. Pro-Assad demonstrators gathered at the Omeyyades Square, waving Syrian flags and the president’s portrait, chanting, “We will sacrifice ourselves for you, Bashar!”

State television said a huge pro-Assad demonstration was also held in Homs city, north of Damascus. “Millions of Syrians” flocked to squares around the country to hail his speech, it said.

The demonstrations came one day after the Syrian president offered a national dialogue to end the recent unrest in the country.

“We can say that national dialogue is the slogan of the next stage,” President Assad said. “The national dialogue could lead to amendments of the constitution or to a new constitution.”

The president also blamed the deadly violence on the terrorist armed groups and said saboteurs are taking advantage of the pro-reform movement.

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