Syrian President Bashar Assad has acknowledged mistakes were made in
stabilizing the situation in the country, he said in Damascus at a
meeting with deputy foreign ministers of Brazil, India and South
Africa, members of the UN Security Council, RIA Novosti reports.
The UN Security Council condemned the Syrian authorities on August 3
for using force against protesters and urged them to start reforms.
French Foreign Minister Alan Juppe said that more harsh measures will
be taken unless Syria improves the situation within 7 days. This does
not include military intervention, he added.
Assad said that they are clarifying details of new political laws and
versions of economic reforms. Constitutional adjustments will be made
by February-March 2012.
The protests in Syria started in Deraa in mid-March, spreading to
other regions. Over 1600 people have died. The Syrian authorities
blame terrorists for the disorders. About 500 law-enforcers have died.
Thousands of Syrians went out to the streets and prayed on August 5,
as a protest against the ruling regime. Reports on deaths were
received from Damascus, Homs and other cities. 40 people died in a
military operation in Deir ez-Zor.
