Syrian president announces end of state of emergency

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says the country's decades-old state of emergency laws will be lifted within a week. He made the announcement Saturday during a cabinet speech broadcast nationwide. Anti-government protesters have been demanding the lifting of emergency laws, which give security forces sweeping powers to carry out arrests and detentions. Syrian president announces end of state of emergency Assad said Syria's stability is a priority issue, and that security forces need additional training on how to deal with protests. The president said unemployment - particularly joblessness among youth - remains Syria's biggest problem. “Young people unable to find jobs become frustrated,” Assad said, and "turn away from the aspirations of the state." He urged the country's new cabinet to consider a number of measures that could create more jobs. Earlier Saturday, thousands of mourners turned out for the funeral of a man who protesters say was shot by pro-government forces during a demonstration last Sunday. Some people attending the service in the coastal city of Banias chanted slogans calling for freedom. Separately, Syria's state-run news agency said Saturday that a policeman was beaten to death by protesters in the central city of Homs. SANA reported the police officer was hit with sticks and stones during a pro-democracy demonstration on Friday that turned violent. On Thursday, Assad unveiled a new 30-member cabinet and ordered the release of activists detained during recent anti-government protests. Both measures were seen as a bid to ease opposition unrest, which has been on the increase for the past month. Demonstrations have turned violent at times as protesters have clashed with security forces. Human rights groups say more than 200 people have been killed during the government's crackdown on protests. Syria has been ruled continuously by the Assad family since 1970, when the current president's father, Hafez al-Assad, became head of state. He died in 2000. The Emergency Law effectively limits most constitutional protections for individual citizens in Syria by banning demonstrations, controlling the media and allowing eavesdropping. It has been in effect for nearly 50 years. The Syrian government (Beta)

Syrian president announces end of state of emergency

Assad said Syria's stability is a priority issue, and that security forces need additional training on how to deal with protests.

The president said unemployment - particularly joblessness among youth - remains Syria's biggest problem.

“Young people unable to find jobs become frustrated,” Assad said, and "turn away from the aspirations of the state." He urged the country's new cabinet to consider a number of measures that could create more jobs.

Earlier Saturday, thousands of mourners turned out for the funeral of a man who protesters say was shot by pro-government forces during a demonstration last Sunday. Some people attending the service in the coastal city of Banias chanted slogans calling for freedom.

Separately, Syria's state-run news agency said Saturday that a policeman was beaten to death by protesters in the central city of Homs. SANA reported the police officer was hit with sticks and stones during a pro-democracy demonstration on Friday that turned violent.

On Thursday, Assad unveiled a new 30-member cabinet and ordered the release of activists detained during recent anti-government protests. Both measures were seen as a bid to ease opposition unrest, which has been on the increase for the past month.

Demonstrations have turned violent at times as protesters have clashed with security forces. Human rights groups say more than 200 people have been killed during the government's crackdown on protests.

Syria has been ruled continuously by the Assad family since 1970, when the current president's father, Hafez al-Assad, became head of state. He died in 2000.

The Emergency Law effectively limits most constitutional protections for individual citizens in Syria by banning demonstrations, controlling the media and allowing eavesdropping. It has been in effect for nearly 50 years.