DAMASCUS – SYRIA’S President Bashar al-Assad is to deliver a speech on Wednesday in which he may lift emergency rule, one of the main demands of two weeks of unprecedented protests that have left dozens dead.

An ally of Iran and sworn foe of Washington’s key regional partner Israel, Syria’s government is facing demands for major change by protesters emboldened by movements that topped autocratic regimes in Tunisia and Egypt.

‘The president will deliver a major speech to the Syrian people, linked to domestic issues and recent developments in Syria,’ the official SANA news agency reported.

The report came a day after a senior official told AFP that Assad ‘will address the country tomorrow, on Wednesday, from parliament,’ without giving any further details.

Assad is expected to elaborate on a string of reforms announced last week, which came in response to two weeks of protests demanding reform and more freedoms in the country ruled by the Baath party for nearly 50 years.

Facebook group The Syria Revolution 2011, which has emerged as the motor behind demonstrations demanding ‘freedom’ in Syria, has called for sit-ins across the country on Friday, despite the government’s conciliatory moves. — AFP

Comments

comments