Syrian president grants amnesty for military penalties only

Damascus, May 2 (Xinhua-ANI): Syrian President Bashar al-Assad granted Wednesday a general amnesty that covers only the penalties provided in for some articles of the law of military service and military sanctions, state-run SANA news agency reported.

The state TV will host a symposium to explain the details of this amnesty, said SANA.

The Syrian government is facing mounting international criticism over its alleged crackdown on opposition strongholds.

To ease the simmering tension, Assad has granted a set of amnesties that pardoned wanted people who hadn't committed homicide during the year-long crisis. But Wednesday's amnesty came specifically for military penalties only.

More than 2,000 wanted people have turned themselves to the authorities over the past month, said SANA. (Xinhua-ANI)