The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad yesterday bowed to the most serious and sustained challenge to his authoritarian grip on the country as his regime finally agreed to lift the 48-year state of emergency. The concession – one of the key demands of demonstrators during weeks of protests against Assad’s 11-year rule – failed to placate opposition leaders who described it as a sham designed to mask a continued brutal crackdown. To demonstrate legally they will still need permission from the Interior Ministry, and their concerns were heightened by the arrest of leading opposition figure Mahmoud Issaa in Homs last night. The cabinet decision, which still needs to be rubber-stamped by Assad,…
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on April 19, 2011. Filed under News.
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Posted by
on April 19, 2011. Filed under