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Syria: Bashar al-Assad 'grants general amnesty' Syria: Bashar al-Assad 'grants general amnesty'
(40 minutes later)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree granting a general amnesty, state media say.Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree granting a general amnesty, state media say.
The amnesty would cover political opposition movements, including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, the reports said.The amnesty would cover political opposition movements, including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, the reports said.
President Assad has faced months of protests against his rule.President Assad has faced months of protests against his rule.
Authorities have cracked down on demonstrators, killing more than 1,000 people and arresting thousands more, according to human rights groups. Authorities have cracked down on demonstrators, killing more than 1,000 people and arresting at least 10,000 more, according to human rights groups.
The government has also offered some political concessions, but protesters have dismissed these as largely cosmetic.The government has also offered some political concessions, but protesters have dismissed these as largely cosmetic.
Late on Tuesday, state TV repeatedly flashed an "urgent" caption announcing the amnesty.Late on Tuesday, state TV repeatedly flashed an "urgent" caption announcing the amnesty.
"President Assad grants a general pardon for the crimes committed before 31 May," it said."President Assad grants a general pardon for the crimes committed before 31 May," it said.
"The pardon includes all those who belong to political movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood.""The pardon includes all those who belong to political movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood."
The announcement came as army forces were reported to be attacking two towns in central Syria where protests have continued. 'Too little, too late'
The announcement came as army forces using tanks were reported to be attacking two towns in central Syria, Talbisa and Rastan, where protests have continued.
Foreign journalists have been prevented from entering Syria, and reports of violence are hard to verify.
The BBC's Jim Muir reports from neighbouring Lebanon that the amnesty had been anticipated.The BBC's Jim Muir reports from neighbouring Lebanon that the amnesty had been anticipated.
It is also expected that Syrian authorities will launch an attempt at national dialogue in the next few days, he says. He says it is also expected that Syrian authorities will launch an attempt at national dialogue in the next few days, though it is not clear who they intend to talk to.
In March, shortly before protests escalated, President Assad issued an amnesty for those convicted of minor crimes and prisoners over the age of 70. The success of any dialogue in defusing the crisis will depend on how credible the amnesty turns out to be, and is unlikely to get far if heavy-handed repression continues on the ground, our correspondent adds.
In an initial reaction, Syrian activists in Turkey described the amnesty as "too little too late".
"This measure is insufficient," Abdel Razak Eid, an activist from the "Damascus Declaration" movement told AFP news agency.
"We are united under the slogan: the people want the fall of the regime and all those who have committed crimes brought to account."
Hama uprising
The Muslim Brotherhood has supported but not initiated the current uprising.
The banned political movement was behind a 1982 uprising in the city of Hama that was ruthlessly repressed, with at least 10,000 killed.
Membership of the group is punishable by death, though this has not been enforced.
In March this year, shortly before protests escalated, President Assad issued an amnesty for those convicted of minor crimes and prisoners over the age of 70.
In April, the president lifted decades-old emergency laws, but violence by the security forces was widely seen to have got worse following the announcement.
The government has blamed the unrest on armed groups, Islamists and foreign agitators.