Bashar al-Assad Issues General Amnesty For Syria: State TV

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BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a general amnesty on Tuesday, state television said, after 10 weeks of protests against his 11-year rule and a military crackdown which has drawn international condemnation.

The amnesty covers "all members of political movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood," the television said. Membership of the Brotherhood, which led an armed uprising against Assad's father in 1982, is punishable by death in Syria.

Syrian activists say 10,000 people have been arrested since the protests against Assad broke out in the southern city of Deraa in mid-March, and 1,000 civilians have been killed.

One of the main demands of protesters has been the release of political prisoners, as well as curbing the all-powerful security forces.

Syria blames the violence on armed groups, Islamists and foreign agitators, saying more than 120 police and soldiers have been killed in the unrest nationwide.

Western nations have been pushing for the U.N. Security Council to condemn the violent repression in Syria, but veto-wielding council members Russia and China have both expressed reservations over a draft resolution.

Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad, sent troops to crush an armed uprising by the Brotherhood in Hama nearly 30 years ago.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[Stephanie White]

12:28 PM on 06/03/2011

PEOPLE! This isn't about your prejudices or what you believe people in the middle east are like. This is about the cold blooded torture and murder of innocent civilians, including children. Do you think murdering children is wrong? Because you should, no matter where they are from.

[olitenup]

09:26 AM on 06/01/2011

Ahhh, the ruling class, aren't they special.

[PlayTOE]

09:13 AM on 06/01/2011

So, the 1000 people that Bashar al-Assad had murdered for complaining about him are now forgiven for daring to voice complaints (and the killers are totally off the hook) very convenient.

Question, did the people who were arrested gain release?

[ConsensusReality]

08:36 AM on 06/01/2011

Wonder how his head's going to look on a pole in a parade through downtown Beirut?!?

[Wisdo]

08:26 AM on 06/01/2011

lets hope its all over for the ghastly Assad family.

[BARRISTER]

08:02 AM on 06/01/2011

How about an Amnesty for George Bush, The Supreme Court Members, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Rove, Ashcroft, Libbey, Obama, Holder, the Members of Congress and the rest of the oppressive criminals who have cracked down on American Citizens since 911.

[Seriously27]

08:38 AM on 06/01/2011

Aren't you the witty one. How about this: go on tv here and criticize all of these people. Then, go to syria and criticize the government. Let us know what works out better for you. You claiming that American citizens are oppressed is an insult to all of the people in the middle east that are risking their lives right now to get basic human rights.

[Inlikeflint64]

03:50 AM on 06/01/2011

Chirp, Chirp

[BurtonDesque]

03:40 AM on 06/01/2011

Oh, how nice of him, pardoning people for protesting the fact he's a bloody dictator. What a sweetheart.

Somehow I don't think his people will grant him the same mercy in the end.

[greeneyes51654m]

03:48 AM on 06/01/2011

Very true.

[mxytsplyk]

02:40 AM on 06/01/2011

Too Little.

[gfs5541]

02:32 AM on 06/01/2011

Too Late.

[Rubiconski]

02:15 AM on 06/01/2011

The Israel-US-Saudi ‘axis of evil’ are bent on salvaging the colonial status quo in the Middle East.

[BurtonDesque]

03:40 AM on 06/01/2011

Quit making excuses for brutal dictators like Assad.

[greeneyes51654m]

03:44 AM on 06/01/2011

Absolutely.

[JerryLevy]

06:17 AM on 06/01/2011

Your concern for your fellow Muslims is noted.

[Rubiconski]

02:08 AM on 06/01/2011

Syria needs to reclaim its land stolen by Israel, the lapdog of the USA.

[Dorian Mode]

06:13 AM on 06/01/2011

Syria lost that land in a war, and if Muslims want respect in this world, they should stop becoming human (smart bombs) When was the last time you heard of an Israeli self detonating. Most civlize countries try not to hurt innocent civilians, but Muslim nations target civilians, that act alone, is despicable

[Wisdo]

08:28 AM on 06/01/2011

"When was the last time you heard of an Israeli self detonating­"

Essentially you are arguing for Islamic nations to arm themselves more readily with American military weapons.

people only use suicide bombs when they dont have access to smart ones.

[Escalonz]

11:58 PM on 06/01/2011

but Muslim nations target civilians, that act alone, is despicable

And the essence of cowardly ness..........

[JerryLevy]

06:18 AM on 06/01/2011

If the Syrian dictatorship did get the Gholan Heights back, it would not do a thing for the thousands of prisoners in Syria. What really needs to happen to Syria is for them to shake the dictatorial rulers of Iran, Hezbollah, and Assad

[PepCap]

01:52 AM on 06/01/2011

tik tok, tik tok...........

[jrwest78]

01:15 AM on 06/01/2011

hard not to suspect that the guy running things for Al-Qaeda might have a lot to do with the current timeline of events if you consider the countries and the make-up of the rebellions just a thought...

[Taxim]

01:53 AM on 06/01/2011

I don't think that qualifies as a thought.

[BurtonDesque]

03:41 AM on 06/01/2011

How do you figure al Qaeda has anything to do with this?

[jrwest78]

01:12 AM on 06/01/2011

I guess as long as Russia has a naval base in Syria, the people there can't get any love from Obama? I guess as long as Iran has chemical weapons and friends in China and Russia, neither do they? Bahrain is supported by the Saudis, so they have to make due, same with Yemen......the guy the UN invited to come to New York and speak at their assembly because he has 'showed his commitment to brotherhood, and building peace with all nations'....Gaddafi, is now being under attack by the US who invoked a resolution they passed intended to prevent such an intervention

[PepCap]

01:53 AM on 06/01/2011

well put.fanned