Protests Continue as Assad Declares Amnesty

All crimes committed during the uprising would be forgiven, even as government forces keep firing on activists.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has extended an amnesty to all those who have committed crimes prior to June 20, a concession that anti-government protesters say doesn't go far enough. The move follows a speech yesterday in which Assad promised reform but made little mention of specific measures, prompting another wave of protests across the country. The amnesty would drop the charges against the thousands upon thousands of Syrians who have been arrested by the state's security forces since mass protests began more than three months ago. As many as 1,300 Syrians have been killed in the uprising so far, including at least three today after the announced amnesty.