Syria moves to scrap emergency law

Syria is to set up a judicial committee to study the abolition of its emergency law, in force since 1963, the state news agency said, reports Aljazeera.net. Thursday's announcement came a day after Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, blamed "conspirators" for anti-government protests in a speech in which he was widely expected to unveil reforms demanded by protesters but simply said "staying without reforms is destructive to the country". "Under a directive by President Bashar al-Assad, a judicial committee has been formed to prepare a study with the aim of abolishing the emergency law," read a brief report on the SANA news agency. "The committee should finish its work by April 25," it added. Assad, who assumed power after the death of his father in 2000, is facing unprecedented domestic pressure on his rule as protests demanding political reforms and an end to emergency law enter their third week. Demonstrators, scores of whom have been killed by security forces, have called for more rallies across Syria after weekly Muslim prayers on Friday. Activists estimate more than 130 people have died in clashes with security forces, mainly in the southern governorate of Daraa and the northern city of Latakia. Officials put the death toll at closer to 30. Saying Wednesday's speech by Assad disappointed many protesters, Al Jazeera's Cal Perry in Damascus, the Syrian capital, hinted that it would take some time to lift the emergency law. More protests are expected after Friday prayers, said our correspondent. "Friday is going to be a real ... precipitating moment here: how people will protest. Will they continue to protest for just reforms or could we see something more drastic perhaps - people protesting to end his rule?" he said. During his speech, which lasted almost one hour, Assad hit out at social networking websites and pan-Arabic satellite television news channels for stoking and reporting the protests. He said he supported reforms but offered no new commitment to change Syria's rigid, one-party political system.