Syria's foreign minister has indicated that general elections will be held by the end of the year, as anti-government protesters continue to press for President Bashar al-Assad's ouster.
Walid Moallem also said “free and fair elections” would lead to a people's assembly that represents the Syrian population. He commented on Saturday, two days after President Assad issued a decree that allows opposition parties to operate for the first time.
The announcements are an apparent bid by the government to appease protesters. Activists and witnesses have recently accused the government of sharpening its crackdown on dissent.
Shortly after the foreign minister's comments, rights groups said the Syrian security forces had arrested Walid al-Bunni, a leading opposition figure, and his two sons near Damascus.
Also Saturday, rights groups said Syrian military forces were tightening their grip on Hama, a flashpoint city that has been under siege for almost a week.
The French News Agency says the government has also moved tanks into Deir el-Zour, the site of a massive anti-government protest on Friday.
Activists say at least 26 people were killed on Friday, as security forces opened fire on protesters who rallied across the country.
Gulf Arab states broke their silence about the bloodshed in Syria on Saturday. The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council issued a statement calling for an immediate end to the violence and for the implementation of reforms.
The bloc includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The statement from the six nations followed a pledge by the U.S., France and Germany to consider additional ways to support the Syrian people and bring pressure against Mr. Assad.
A White House statement Friday said U.S. President Barack Obama spoke separately with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. It said the three leaders condemned the continued use of “indiscriminate violence” against the Syrian people.
Rights group say nearly 2,000 people have died since the government launched its crackdown on dissent.
