Syrian government to resign as pro-Assad forces demonstrate

The government of Syria is expected to resign Tuesday, as tens of thousands of people respond to recent protests against Bashar al-Assad with a demonstration in support of the president in Damascus.

Reuters/George Ourfalian

The government will hand in its resignation and a new one will be formed within 24 hours, a Syrian official told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity.

Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otri formed his government in 2003 and it was later reshuffled in 2009.

Police closed off all roads leading to the Sabeh Bahrat Square in Damascus on Tuesday as tens of thousands of pro-regime demonstrators flooded the capital.

The rally was a response to protests, mainly in the southern governorate of Daraa and the northern port of Latakia.

Activists say that 130 people have been killed and many more injured in clashes with security forces. Officials, who blame “armed gangs” and Muslim fundamentalists, put the death toll at about 30.

Assad is expected to address the people in the next few days.

Officials say that he will announce the end of the state of emergency which has been in force since the Baath Party took power in 1963.

Among its provisions are the arrest of people who "threaten security", surveillance of personal communications and control of media content before publication.