President al-Assad accepts resignation of Syria's Cabinet

[News_Editor]

President al-Assad accepts resignation of Syria's Cabinet

2011-03-29 23:31:51 GMT+7 (ICT)

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BNO NEWS) -- President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday accepted the resignation of the Syria's cabinet after two weeks of anti-government protests, the state-run SANA news agency reported.

The 32-member cabinet led by Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otari will continue running the Middle Eastern country's affairs until the designation of a new government, as ordered by President al-Assad. Otari has been Premier since 2003.

The anti-government protests continued on Tuesday as millions of Syrian citizens participated in rallies in many provinces, including the capital Damascus. The protests are threatening the 11-year-mandate of al-Assad.

In addition, al-Assad announced that he will address the Syrian population within the next 24 hours. The president is desperately attempting to control the unrest with a string of concessions. It is expected that al-Assad will lift harsh emergency laws which date back to 1963.

Over the weekend, security forces fired on protesters in Daraa and the surrounding villages of Sanmein and Tafas, killing at least 26 people and injuring others. According to Human Rights Watch, at least 61 people have been killed in Daraa governorate since March 18.

On Saturday, clashes between security forces and protesters in the coastal city of Latakia killed at least 12 others. In addition, anti-government protesters set fire to the headquarters of the ruling Baath Party and a police station in Tafas village.

The government has arrested scores of people since large-scale demonstrations began on March 16. Some have been released while others remain in detention and their whereabouts are unknown.

The violence against peaceful anti-government demonstrators in Syria has been condemned worldwide, including by the United States and the United Nations.

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