Syrians press protests despite reform pledge

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DARAA, (Syria), Mar 25 (AFP): Syrian activists vowed to push on with rallies against "injustice and repression" Friday after weekly Muslim prayers, dismissing reform pledges announced by the authorities. Facebook group The Syria Revolution 2011, which has attracted almost 78,000 fans, called for "Day of Dignity" rallies Friday at mosques across Syria, after a week of deadly protests in the south. "We will continue to protest on Friday against injustice and repression in Daraa and throughout the country," a statement on the site said. "We will continue to demand freedom through peaceful protests until our demands are met." Daraa was calm on Friday morning with the army gone and children playing on the streets, although journalists were ordered to leave the city ahead of weekly prayers which have often been followed by anti-regime protests. Activists in the tense southern city told AFP that people were flocking to Omari mosque, the epicentre of the protests, to bury three of demonstrators killed during the unrest. The call by activists for protests on Friday came despite an announcement late Thursday by presidential adviser Buthaina Shaaban that the ruling Baath party had agreed to study the lifting of emergency laws in force since 1963. Shaaban also announced a string of other reforms, including pay rises for state employees and possible licensing of political parties.