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Arab League foreign ministers will meet on Jan. 22 to discuss the findings of monitors sent to Syria to observe whether President Bashar Assad has implemented a plan to end 10 months of bloodshed, Egypt's Middle East News Agency said according to Reuters.
The Arab League monitors are due to complete on Jan. 19 a report on the situation in Syria. An Arab League committee on Syria, led by Qatar, will discuss the report on Jan. 21 but only a full meeting of the 22-member body's foreign ministers can decide whether to end, extend or beef up the mission.
Arab League chief warns of civil war in Syria
Published at 4:45 a.m. ET:
Reuters is reporting that Syrian President Bashar Assad has granted a general amnesty for crimes committed since the outbreak of a 10-month uprising against his rule, the state news agency SANA reported on Sunday.
SANA said the amnesty would cover "crimes committed in the context of the events that occurred from March 15, 2011, until January 15, 2012." It gave no further details.
French journalist Gilles Jacquier was among several people killed in Syria's central city of Homs on Wednesday, as the 10-month uprising against President Bashar Assad continues. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
It also applies to army deserters who fled military service if they turn themselves in before Jan. 31.
It was not clear how many prisoners would be affected by Sunday's pardon.
Since the outbreak of the uprising against Assad's rule in March, Assad has freed 3,952 prisoners, according to SANA.
The opposition claims there are thousands more in Syrian prisons.
Also on Sunday, U.N. Secretary General demanded Sunday that Assad stop killing his own people, and said the "old order" of one-man rule and family dynasties is over in the Middle East.
In a keynote address at a conference on democracy in the Arab world, Ban Ki-moon said the revolutions of the Arab Spring show that people will no longer accept tyranny.
"Today, I say again to President (Bashar) Assad of Syria: Stop the violence. Stop killing your people," Ban said during the conference in Beirut.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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So ASSad grants amnesty for all crimes including those that he commited/ordered in the last ten months. How forgiving of him. What a humanitarian he is turning out to be.
Yeah, how can you provide amnesty when it's you and your killers who have broken the law.
Sorry but, you can't escape this easily.
I don't know what reality he lives in but we are definitely going to help Assad cross over into our reality.
If you kill especially on the level that Assad have you have to face your responsibilty to those who lives were lost and their families.
The only thing that your position as leader does for you is bring your evils into the light.
It doesn't give you the ability to use scape goats after these crimes.
Your actions do not and will not disapear!!!
But,what will be in question is the actions of those around you who are not telling you that you are wrong in your assessments and actions.
They will pay a higher price for not doing the right thing when they knew you were wrong and they had the ability to.
For those who left his army and would not be forced to kill the innocent even with guns to your heads, You are my eternal hereos and will always be praised by your ability to realize it is up to you to choose to commit acts of evil or to rise up against them.
FOR THOSE WHO STAND AGAINST WRONG YOUR ACTIONS WILL BE PRAISED EVEN IF IT ISN'T INSTANT!!!!
This man is truly irrational
A good point was made about acquiring a list of people that fought the government.
Don't trust this butcher ,He will track the freedom fighters and will kill all of them.
Last 10 months of killing shows the reality of what goes on in his regime.
Bottom line Assad has to go for good and We people of the World will stay behind Syrian people.
Hah,...that's good....It almost sounds like all those "cookies" being pulled out of the pre-election "jar" by the desperate Obama Gang..
Sorry, folks....the Government is the one that needs "amnesty" in Syria, not the victims...nothing will bring back their loved ones and friends nor erase the shame that Assad has brought upon his rule.
Advice to Assad and his military/security folks:
Get outta town before you're begging for "amnesty"..
Curious Bob,
RE: your post #3
Do you honestly think that comparing OUR president and his administration with Assad and his henchmen, in Syria, is an intelligent comparison or even close to reality? Do you believe that it makes you look intelligent, reasoned, and factual?
Assad is a ruthless and desperate tyrant; not to be trusted for ANY reason! If he stays in power, he will eventually kill or imprison any person thought to have participated, even if only a small role, in this uprising. He needs to GO!
I think you are confusing Obama for the GOP
I thought the "Obama Gang" thing was kind of funny; you are too.
In my opinion, the Democrats, and Republicans have both screwed up this country beyond recognition. I suppose now you will call me a Tea- Bagger; Wrong.
As for Assad - Too much blood has been drawn !!!!!!
Syrian regime grants amnesty for all the crimes committed during the uprising? Hmm, does it include the crimes committed by the regime? These dictators are the same everywhere in the world. You can't trust most of them. I'm originally from Uzbekistan, so I have a first hand experience of what this bastards in power are capable of. In May of 2005 thousands of people gathered for a rally to protest the government and demand change in my country. The president of Uzbekistan sealed the town off, moved in the troops and opened fire from machine guns at the crowd, killing hundreds of protesters, including women and children. After that the dictator began arresting everyone who participated in that rally. Thousands of people fled the country, and now live in foreign nations that gave them protection. Then the dictator began promising amnesty and forgiveness to anyone who decides to return to our country. Naturally, almost nobody believed him. But some did. One of them was a lady who fled the country and ended up in Australia where she received a political asylum. But her four children were left in Uzbekistan, and she missed them. Then Uzbekistani government began contacting her, promising forgiveness, amnesty, and telling her she can return home to her kids. Finally she was convinced and returned home. She was arrested at the airport right after her plane landed, tried, found guilty of participating in a "terrorist insurrection", and sentenced for ten years in prison. And by prison I don't mean a building with individual rooms, bunk beds, regular meals, and a library. By prison I mean a huge concentration camp in a desert, where people are beaten, tortured, raped, where guards tear out their fingernails and teeth, stick needles under their nails, insert police batons in their butts, deprive them of food, water and sleep, and even dip them into boiling water. Syrian people can't trust their dictator, no matter what he promises. If they are fighting, they should fight on till victory. The tyrant only wants to trick them and calm them down so that he can start eliminating them when he has the opportunity.
Screw assad! Tell him where to shove his amnasty!
It look like every one in the Arab world are beginning to understand that One man rule or one family rule is over.
I hope this is so because Ignorance is a sun of a gun people .I have hope that most young people in this world see things different than their parents or grandparents and that's were I think the world will see a change for the better in the next 15 years.
As soon as you accept amnesty, it means you are admitting you were wrong in the first place; the only one wrong here are the torture killing soldiers and the leader himself; the people don't need to ask for amnesty; they are the ones who may grant forgiveness to Assad once he is in custody.
Earlier Hillary Clinton has urged Syrians not to accept such amnesty offers.As to the UN Secretary General,he is blinkered by the narrow goggles fixed on his face by the NATO component of the Security Council.
Do the dead and wounded for life get amnesty too ?
sonar guy,
I had to read your post number 11 a couple times. I don't think that the "dead" will care if they get amnesty for LIFE. I am just kidding you, of course. Thought that your post was fine -- and seriously funny. I know there is a word for that use of the English Language, but I'll be darned if I can remember what you call it. I just call it FUNNY! Thanks for the unintended laugh this morning and have a GREAT week!
ew this better not turn out like lybia, or eygpt where know they still dont like the government and they want to kill the old ruler and his whole family even thou they stepped down. we the people of america have to worry bout america then the other people of the world
The world never changes....
Is his strategy to stay in power by trying to blunt Arab and other world outrage and condemnation of the regime, pardon his ruthless henchmen, seek somehow to mollify Syrians of conscience eager to topple him, appear "oh-so humanitarian", and back-peddle to somehow shield himself --rather than protect those who demonstrated or opposed the regime?
This "pardon" is a no-veil masquerade of amnesty for the perpetrators--no need for charges, counsel and trials. It's so efficient and cost-effective--now that hoped the opposition is silenced.
And for those mercilessly slaughtered: what were their crimes anyway? A pardon does not resurrect them.
This has all the trappings of subterfuge and desperation of a callous tyrant who overplayed his hand (and machine guns), is bathed in the blood of his own people, and is now on the brink. He is hopeful he caused to be murdered, tortured, raped and imprisoned sufficient Syrians to "keep them in line"--so now he can close the the spigot of blood. "Let's be friends!" It's his balancing act--he can no longer continue this pattern, but he thinks/hopes it had the desired, lasting effect of repressing and terrorizing his people into submission. In other words, he's run out of options.
And what do you suppose will happen to the soldiers who deserted, but now: "Yo! It's AOK--just admit you're a traitor and turn yourself in by January 31." Don't be surprised if they are not tortured down to their DNA, then used for fish food or fertilizer for Syrian crops. Revulsion was nothing new in this relentless massacre.
It's all SO transparent. These "pardons" will not placate, they will further infuriate.
How stupid do you think the World is?
"Who....are you...." and "We won't be fooled again!" The Who.
Let the UN helps in bringing President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria to book for the killing of protesters and to clamour for international isolation for the corrupt govt in Nigeria, unless it changes
Sounds like he was reading from a Teleprompter
Assad's regime is ruled by his mafia ruthless family: His brother, his sister and his cousins, all are criminals. They should face the justice for their crimes committed against the Syrian people. The dynasty rule is over for the Assad regime. They hold and clinch to power by introducing fear and killing of innocent people.
this rotten S.O.B. has gotta go !!! ASS-AD is so foola SH&T that i gotta buy some wadin boots.!! I'd love to go over there as a mercenary force and publicy hang this frikkin bastard !!! answer this..."what attracts flies"?
ITS A TRICK!!! Hes gonna get all those who have been involved in the uprisings against his rule to turn themselves in then line them all up then kill them all!!!
Amnesty for dead people, there's a concept.
This is why they took guns away from "criminals" in our country... Anyone they thought that might rise up against them was targeted.. My question is this, how is our system any different? We vote, but are so guided in our system its pathetic that we think we do so freely. We've had fear used against us soooo long...
This story made it seem like he was doing them a favor. Truth is they should spill his blood.
The Syrian government must be issuing amnesty for their OWN crimes during the uprising!
assad is secretly a jew
That has to the answer because otherwise muslims would be at peace in Syria, just as they are throughout the world!
This has to stop! The jews are making the muslims hate each other and the rest of the world!
Sigh
Someone needs to kill Assad. Thats how you get rid of tyrants. The world should start air-dropping crates of sniper rifles and ammo to the Syrian people. Revolutionaries need arms to have any chance.
Then we'll get to see how well the muslims in that nation can self govern with a dictator, or without jews and the west to blame their @!$%#hole existence on.
Sounds like a win/win to me.
The audacity, the nerves. He needs to be told that he can't grant Amnesty to himself, that's not the way it works. Amazing how such stupid people have so much power.
Plus we all know that army deserters and militants will be seriously reprimanded anyhow (as in hanged). Trusting Assad is like trusting Hitler, the only thing to trust is that he will deceive everyone. He probably figured if he catch those last rebels he will have cleaned his serfdom.