Damascus: Security has been stepped up in Syria ahead of what protesters say will be the biggest rallies so far against President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Troops have reportedly been deployed in the flashpoint city of Homs ahead of Friday prayers, which have become the trigger for intensifying protests.
In concessions to protesters on Thursday, President Assad formally ended five decades of emergency rule.
Human rights groups say more than 200 people have died in weeks of protests.
A spokesman for Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Assad “has the opportunity to prove his intentions by allowing (Friday’s) protests to proceed without violent repression”.
“The reforms will only be meaningful if Syria’s security services stop shooting, detaining, and torturing protesters,” said Joe Stork, HRW’s deputy Middle East director.
The Syrian government says it is listening to protesters’ demands and President Assad is pushing through a programme of reforms. Thursday’s concessions included abolishing state security courts and allowing peaceful protests
But analysts say increasing numbers of opposition activists are calling for the downfall of the regime.
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