Violence in Syria continues despite reform

In Syria, two people are dead and nine others are wounded in the northwestern province of Idlib. President Bashar al-Assad has called a day of prayers for the “martys” of the uprising and promises press reforms, but former allies are losing patience with the regime. 

Assad issued a decree on a media law on Sunday, which would remove the threat of imprisonment for journalists as well as allow for more access to information in the country.

Journalists can still face a fine of 21,000 euros for defamation.

Despite reform, the violence in Syria continues. On Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that security forces and the army used automatic weapons to open fire on residents in Idlib.

On Saturday, 15 people were wounded in Damascus. In the capital’s western quarter of Kafar Susseh, one demonstrator was killed and 10 others were hurt after security forces attacked a group leaving prayers at the Rifai mosque.

On Sunday, Syria rejected an Arab League statement that demanded an end to the bloodshed in the country.

In a note sent to the Cairo-based organisation, Syria said the statement was a “clear violation… of the principles of the Arab League charter and of the foundations of joint Arab action.”

The 22-member Arab League had announced its peace initiative following a special session in Cairo on Saturday to try to solve the Syrian crisis that has killed more than 2,000 people.

Turkey has expressed its exasperation with the Syrian regime’s deadly crackdown on protesters in recent months.

President Abdullah Gul told the Anatolia news agency on Sunday that the situation in Syria had “reached a level that everything is too little, too late. We lost our confidence.”

Turkey has called on Assad to make reforms but has not called for his departure.