BICOM

Syria’s government yesterday passed a draft law to lift a state of emergency law that has been in place in the country for 48 years. The lifting of the law was a key demand by antigovernment demonstrators who have been protesting against the Assad regime. In addition, the government approved the abolition of a state security court which dealt with trials of political prisoners and approved a law to allow for peaceful demonstrations, if approved by the interior ministry. The changes are expected to receive parliamentary approval on 2 May. The announcement of the lifting of the emergency law was followed up by the arrest of a well-known Syrian opposition figure Mahmoud Issa.

Several media outlets reported that government security forces opened fire on antigovernment protesters in the Western city of Homs. Human Rights organisations say around 200 Syrians have died in the latest unrest challenging the Assad regime.

Meanwhile, the US released a skeptical response to the new Syrian law. US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said the US is unsure whether the new Syrian draft law will be less restrictive. Toner added that the reports of government forces firing at protesters raised “serious concerns and it remains clear that the Syrian government needs to urgently implement broader reforms and … to cease violence against peaceful protesters.”