Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday issued a decree stipulating the lifting of emergency rule, a key demand of protesters, told Syrian state television. He also issued a second decree abolishing the Court of State Security and a third regulating the right to protest in the country, theater since March 15 of unprecedented demonstrations against the regime.

President al-Assad had promised Saturday that the emergency law would be abolished in "a week maximum.This law reduces civil liberties, impose restrictions on freedom of assembly and movement, and allows the arrest of "suspects or persons threatening security."

End of a special court

Assad has also issued a decree "stipulating the abolition of the Court of State Security," the television. The Court of State Security is an exceptional court established under a 1968 law to replace the special military court with the same prerogatives. Its judgments are final."All trials (brought current) within the framework of this tribunal will be reviewed by the courts' jurisdiction, the decree says.

A third decree provides for "the regulation of peaceful demonstrations, which are a basic right guaranteed by the constitution," said the television. "We must balance the security and governmental use of the right to demonstrate, and should enable the authorities to protect public and private property," the decree. President al-Assad said that this series of reforms aimed at "expanding freedoms."He also assured that a new press law was "almost ready".

The lifting of emergency rule does not affect the determination of the demonstrators

The end of the state of emergency in force since coming to power of the Baath party in March 1963, is one of the main demands of protesters, with the release of political prisoners. But opponents felt that these measures did not stop the repression.After the lifting of emergency rule, "political prisoners of conscience and should be released, the opposition in exile allowed to return, arrests should be banned and permitted events, but (the authorities) do not apply law, "have assured opponents on Facebook before the promulgation of the decrees.

Contacted by FRANCE 24 minutes after the repeal of emergency law, a Syrian lawyer and opposition member had the same meaning: "It's not just the emergency law (…) Al-Assad should convene a constituent assembly to truly democratize the Syrian political life, to proclaim an amnesty for political prisoners, abolition of Article 8 of the Constitution that gives primacy to the Baath Party. "

A group has launched an appeal via Facebook to demonstrate for a day called "Friday", coinciding with the day commemorating the Passion of Christ, which looks like a test day of the determination of the opposition. "Friday, April 22, 2011, one heart, one hand, one goal," organizers said on a page where we see a church steeple between two minarets.