Syria frees 9 convicts in rare gesture

Syria has freed nine long-term communist political prisoners under a presidential amnesty marking the 31st anniversary of the rise to power of the late president, Mr Hafez al-Assad.

Prisoners from the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and pro-Iraqi branch of the ruling Ba'ath party are also expected to be released in the coming days. Human rights groups estimate there are still 1,300 political prisoners in Syria.

The releases followed the postponement of the trials of two members of parliament, Mr Ma'moun Homsi and Mr Riyad Sayf, detained along with eight other dissidents in August and September.

Mr Homsi was arrested for staging a hunger strike in protest at the retention of martial law imposed in 1963 when the ruling Ba'ath party took power. Mr Sayf was imprisoned after he held an unauthorised political gathering at his home.

Since Dr Bashar al-Assad succeeded his father as president in June 2000, Damascus has limped towards economic and political reform. But progress has been obstructed by "old guard" politicians determined to preserve the status quo.

Observers noted that court proceedings in the presence of the press, the public and foreign diplomats amount to a decided advance over the secret trials which previously obtained.

The fact that rights campaigners have spoken out publicly without being jailed is also a positive development, commentators remarked.