Syrian President to address nation, pledge reform

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Syrian government resigned Tuesday, March 29, in what might have been a prelude to other concessions in a speech President Bashar al-Assad is expected to give to the nation on Wednesday, part of an expanding effort to address protests against his rule.

Mr. Assad’s speech was scheduled to try to calm tensions after government forces repeatedly opened fire on demonstrators, killing dozens of people. According to officials, the speech, originally expected on Monday, will offer significant political concessions, including the lifting of laws that restrict civil and political freedoms. The promises, however, were greeted skeptically by a public accustomed to a leadership that has talked of reform for years without results.

Mr. Assad initially boasted that his nation was immune to the popular unrest that has swept the region. But events in Syria have played out much as they have in other nations - moving from denial to a bloody crackdown to efforts at appeasement.

The resignation of the cabinet came as the government worked hard to restore its credibility after thousands marched against it around the country and the military took up positions in cities in the north and south. Tens of thousands of government supporters rallied in Damascus, the capital, on Tuesday, waving flags and pictures of Mr. Assad. The government apparently bused many of the demonstrators in and pressured others to attend the rally, The New York Times reported.