Huge Demonstrations Expected in Syria

Reform groups have called on all Syrians to attend rallies honouring those killed during March’s opposition rallies.

President Bashar al-Assad’s authoritarian government was bracing for major protests across the country Friday on what pro-reform groups have labelled the “Friday of Martyrs.” At least 60 people have been killed in skirmishes with security forces since anti-government demonstrations broke out March 15, and a Facebook group calling itself Syrian Revolution 2011 sent out a message urging Syrians to take to the streets Friday to honour the dead. In his first major speech since unrest broke out in Syria, al-Assad defied expectations Wednesday and refused to signal major reforms, instead blaming the growing uprising on a “major conspiracy” of foreigners. He also announced a committee to study lifting Syria’s emergency laws, which give the government sweeping powers of arrest.