Clinton presses Syria for reform

US secretary of state says Damascus must stop 'arbitrary arrests, torture of prisoners' in its attempt to quell anti-government protests after thousands of students take to streets, vow to hold largest rally to date on Friday

Associated Press|Last update: 04.21.11 , 00:34

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton rapped the Syrian regime for its crackdown on anti-government protests Wednesday, saying Damascus "must stop the arbitrary arrests, detentions and torture of prisoners, and it must cease the violence".

Clinton's condemnation came after thousands of students demonstrated against the authoritarian regime, brushing off President Bashar Assad's sweeping declarations of reform as the country's growing protest movement vowed to stage the biggest rallies to date on Friday.

Recent Moves

Syria lifts state of emergency laws

News agencies

Bashar Assad grants protestors' key demand, approves new law allowing right to peaceful protests but warns protestors to back down. Demonstrators resume protests in Banias less than hour after announcement

Syria lifts state of emergency laws

The month-long uprising in Syria has posed the biggest challenge to the 40-year ruling dynasty of President Bashar Assad and his father before him. On Tuesday, Syria did away with 50 years of emergency rule, but emboldened and defiant crowds accused Assad of simply trying to buy time while he clings to power.

"We are preparing for a huge demonstration on Friday," said an activist in the southern city of Daraa, where anti-government protests first erupted last month and later spread nationwide.

At least 200 people have been killed as the government cracked down on the protesters. On Wednesday, 4,000 university students from Daraa and surrounding areas protested near the city's al-Omari Mosque.

A resident of the city of Homs in central Syria also said preparations for Friday protests were under way, but declined to go into details over the phone.

Also Wednesday, human rights activists said Syrian authorities arrested an opposition figure at his home during an overnight raid, hours after the government announced an end to emergency rule.

Syrian Human Rights League chief, Abdul-Karim Rihawi, said security agents picked up Mahmoud Issa from his home in the central city of Homs after an interview he gave to Al-Jazeera satellite TV late Tuesday.

He said his "arbitrary arrest is in line with the state of emergency rule" and said he expected him to be released after President Assad signs the decree formally abolishing the emergency rule.