Syrian state television said the amnesty covers all crimes committed before May 31.
It could affect 10,000 people who have been rounded up during the protests, according to activists, and includes prisoners belonging to political parties, including the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
The arrests were part of the government's harsh repression of a two-month-old popular uprising demanding Mr Assad's resignation. Mr Assad has offered gestures before, like cancelling hated emergency laws in effect for decades, but the demonstrations have grown and spread through much of the country.
Protesters say that in spite of the cancellation of the laws that gave security officers the power to arrest people without formal justification, Mr Assad's forces have rounded up thousands of people for protesting against his government.
Human rights groups say over 1,000 protesters have been killed in harsh response against protests, including live fire and tank shelling. » | Tuesday, May 31, 2011
