Damascus: An adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has promised government forces will not fire on protests planned for Friday, an opposition leader says. Louay al-Husein told media he and other opposition leaders had been in talks with adviser Buthaina Shabaan to negotiate an end to the crisis.
Reports say tanks and soldiers are already gathering in some cities.
Thousands of people may have been detained in Syria since protests began in March, the Red Cross says.
Assad’s government insists it is pursuing “armed terrorist gangs”.
Husein, who was detained at the start of the unrest but freed a few days later, said Ms Shabaan had told the opposition that security forces had been given strict orders not to fire on crowds on Friday.
Shabaan also said talks to end the crisis would continue next week, Husein added.
Some reports suggested security forces were being deployed in cities where protests are expected on Friday.
In the central city of Homs, a resident told media that soldiers had set up sand barriers with machine guns perched on top, and said that three tanks were still in the area.
“It seems they are getting ready,” he added.
Syrian soldiers and tanks also surrounded the city of Hama, the news agency reported.
The International Committee of the Red Cross says it fears hundreds and perhaps thousands of people in Syria have been detained by security forces during the recent unrest.
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