AFP - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Saturday that the emergency law, in force since 1963, would be abolished in a week maximum, in a speech before the new government broadcast on public television.
The abolition of emergency law, in force since 1962 and which substantially reduces civil liberties, is one of the main demands of protesters who are calling for a liberalization of the regime.
"The Legal Committee on the Emergency Law has developed a series of proposals for new legislation.These proposals will be submitted to the government that will enact laws (...) in a week maximum, "said Assad.
Faced with this unprecedented protest movement of the regime that began in mid-March, the authorities have shown their willingness to adopt reforms.
In late March, Mr. Assad was given until April 25 to a legal committee to draft new legislation to replace the emergency law.
