"The decision to lift the emergency law has already been made. But I do not know about the time frame," Buthaina Shaaban told AFP in an interview at her office.
Syria's emergency law, put in place when the ruling Baath party rose to power in March 1963, imposes restrictions on public gatherings and movement and authorizes the arrest of "suspects or persons who threaten security." The law also authorizes interrogation of any individual and the surveillance of personal communication as well as official control of the content of newspapers and other media before publication.
More than 30 people have been confirmed killed in a spiral of violence that has gripped Syria since a wave of protest broke out on March 15, with demonstrators demanding major reforms.
In a previous attempt to appease increasingly angry protesters, authorities freed 260 political detainees on Saturday. But the reports from Latakia by reformist activists living abroad suggested unrest was still spreading.
Syrian rights activist Ammar Qurabi told Reuters in Cairo: "There have been at least two killed (in Latakia) today after security forces opened fire on protesters trying to torch the Baath party building."
"I have been in touch with people in Syria since last night, using three cell phones and constantly sitting online. Events are moving at an extremely fast pace," he said.
More than 30 people have been confirmed killed in a spiral of violence that has gripped Syria since a wave of protest broke out on March 15, with demonstrators demanding major reforms.
In a previous attempt to appease increasingly angry protesters, authorities freed 260 political detainees on Saturday. But the reports from Latakia by reformist activists living abroad suggested unrest was still spreading.
Syrian rights activist Ammar Qurabi told Reuters in Cairo: "There have been at least two killed (in Latakia) today after security forces opened fire on protesters trying to torch the Baath party building."
"I have been in touch with people in Syria since last night, using three cell phones and constantly sitting online. Events are moving at an extremely fast pace," he said.
Officials have confirmed 27 deaths in clashes between demonstrators and security forces -- 20 of them protesters -- in cities including Homs, Sanamen, Daraa and Latakia since the rallies began on March 15. Activists have put the death toll at more than 126, with upwards of 100 killed on Wednesday alone in a bloody crackdown on protests in Daraa, the southern tribal town that has become the symbol of the protests.
Analysis: "The Syrian government appears to be employing a mixture of tactics in the attempt to slow spreading unrest throughout the country. Offers of substantial concessions in the past few days follow weeks of unrest and violent clashes that have left scores of protesters dead. Following these offers, the Syrian people must now decide what they want to achieve from protests. If they want reforms and freedoms, President Assad appears to be signaling the possibility of changing long-standing policies and practices in return for peace. However, if the people's demands include the collapse of the Assad regime, do not expect the ruling Baathists to relinquish power easily."
Read the Full Article here: http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/03/27/143167.html
