Turkey to buy two F-35 jets from US

File photo of an F-35 fighter jet

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/219538.html

Turkey's government says it plans to purchase two F-35 fighter jets and 15 helicopters from the United States.

The announcement came on Thursday after a key meeting of the Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish defense authorities said they decided to order two F-35 Lightening II jets (formerly known as Joint Strike Fighter) as part of a larger previous plan to purchase 100 jets to replace the country's F-4 and F-16 fleet.

However, the acquisition of the total order has been hampered by increasing costs. The price of each plane is well over 100 million dollars.

The hi-tech fighter jets, manufactured by the US Lockheed Martin Company, are reportedly the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program ever.

Turkey's decision to place the order for the warplanes comes at a time when several other countries, including Denmark, Holland and Canada, have suspended their orders for the jets.

The government also said it will also enter into negotiations with Bell Helicopter Textron for the purchase of 15 helicopters for the country's police forces.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program is an internationally oriented program consisting of partnerships with a number of countries, including United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Denmark, and Norway.

Russia sends warships to Syrian waters

Russian warships expected to enter Syria. (File photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/210934.html

Russia is sending its warships to Syrian waters in a move aimed at preventing any foreign attacks against Syrian territories.

According to Russian sources, the recent move conveys the message that Moscow will block any NATO-led attack under the guise of “humanitarian intervention,” The Nation reported.

Russia has been voicing support for Syria, which it says is currently going through a civil war.

The Western military alliance, NATO, has been making efforts to demonize the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his forces, while downplaying attacks by opposition forces.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has also recently warned the West against any 'Libya-style' military intervention in Syria.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March, with demonstrations being held both against and in support of Syrian President Assad.

According to the United Nations more than 3,000 people, including members of the security forces, have been killed in the turmoil.

The opposition and Western countries accuse Syrian security forces of being behind the killings in the country, but the government blames what it describes as outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups for the deadly violence, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.

UK meets Syrian rebels, fuels unrest

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/210969.html

British Foreign Secretary William Hague is to hold talks with Syrian rebel leaders in London on Monday as the Syrian people condemn foreign intervention in their country's affairs.

"The foreign secretary is meeting with the Syrian opposition," a spokeswoman for Britain's Foreign Office told AFP as other government officials have reportedly planned meetings with Syria's opposition figures.

Furthermore, it emerged that the British government has been engaged in a series of behind-the-scenes contacts with Syrian rebel leaders from the Syrian National Council and the National Co-ordination Committee for Democratic Change over the past months.

“We have had regular contacts with various figures in the Syrian opposition for several months. We are now intensifying these [contacts],” admitted the spokeswoman.

Although Hague has no plans to give the Syrian rebels official recognition, he has appointed Frances Guy, a former ambassador to Beirut, to organize British officials' meetings with exiled Syrian rebel leaders securing the British government an organized intervention in Syria's internal affairs.

Hague's meeting with Syrian rebel leaders comes as thousands of Syrian people have already condemned foreign intervention in their country's internal affairs.

Syria's unrest, which started with people demanding a series of political reforms, turned violent resulting in hundreds of security forces and civilian people being killed.

The Syrian government has blamed foreign-supplied armed gangs and Western countries for orchestrating the unrest.

US lobbies Russia, China on Iran

US President Barack Obama

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/209937.html

US President Barack Obama is seeking China and Russia's support for pressing Tehran into abandoning its nuclear activities after the new IAEA report on Iran received a cool reception.

After International Atomic Energy Agency' Director General Yukiya Amano submitted his latest report on Iran's nuclear activities to the 35 members of the Board of Governors last week, the US and its allies called for imposing more sanctions on Tehran.

Russia and China, however, rejected the call for further sanctions as their diplomats expressed "the mutual conviction that the application of new, additional sanctions against Iran will not lead to the desired result," in a meeting in Moscow.

Obama's talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday was purportedly aimed at shaping a “common response" to Iran's nuclear activities and ensuring that Tehran lives by "international rules and norms," the Associated Press reported.

Neither one of the two leaders, however, publicly supported Obama's positions.

The IAEA in its latest report accused Iran of conducting activities related to developing nuclear weapons before 2003, adding that these activities “may still be ongoing.”

This is while Amano's visit to Washington for talks with US officials before the publication of the report had already raised serious questions about its objectivity and sincerity.

Iran has dismissed the report as "unbalanced, unprofessional and prepared with political motivation and under political pressure mostly by the US."

The United States, Israel, and some of their allies accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program.

Iran argues that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the IAEA, has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Iranian officials have promised a crushing response to any military strike against the country, warning that any such measure could result in a war that would spread beyond the Middle East.

US to upgrade Turkey's F-16 jets

US Air Force F-16 jet fighters (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/209146.html

The United States has reportedly signed a multibillion-dollar contract with Turkish military for upgrading a fleet of Turkish F-16 fighter jets, Press TV reports.

The 2.9-billion-dollar deal involves the refurbishment of just over 210 fighter jets, Press TV's correspondent reported Wednesday from Ankara.

According to provisions of the military contract, the US will also provide Ankara with source codes for the aircraft.

Access to the source code would allow Turkey to use its locally made weaponry and spare parts for the US-made war planes.

Turkey announced in October that it would begin mass-production of a cruise missile -- SOM missile -- that would be mounted on its fighter jets, including its fleet of F-16s.

SOM was first revealed during the 100th year celebrations of the Turkish Air Force (TurAF) at the Cigli Airbase in Izmir on June 4, 2011.

According to the developer, the missile made its first guided flight in August over the Black Sea, covering more than 100 nautical miles, using GPS/INS guidance system. The missile successfully hit its target with high accuracy.

US drones trigger controversy in Turkey

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/209875.html

Turkey has confirmed receiving Predator drones from the United States, triggering controversy about how Ankara would monitor and restrict the operation of the surveillance aircraft, Press TV reports.

The four US Predator drones have reportedly been stationed in the Incirlik Air Base in the southern Turkish province of Adana, a Press TV correspondent reported on Sunday.

Two of the drones apparently arrived in Turkey on October 16, while the other two were delivered on October 23.

On Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey would supervise the operation of the drones and set their flight route.

Davutoglu said the drones would fly only when Turkey requests and the footage they capture would be sent to a joint US-Turkish unit.

The latest development comes as there have been doubts over the past days about Turkey's ability to monitor the activity of the US drones. Some commentators say the drones are not visible to the radar systems.

EU steps up sanctions on Syria

Oil accounts for about 30% of Syria's income.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/197098.html

The European Union has finally bowed to pressure from the US, stepping up sanctions against Syria by banning imports of its oil.

The latest sanctions cover the purchase, import and transport of oil and other petroleum products from Syria, which accounts for about 30% of the country's currency earnings.

The EU also has banned European banks from opening credit lines for such sales, and prohibited insurance companies from insuring the cargos. The EU oil embargo, which was adopted on Friday, will take effect from Saturday.

About 95% of Syria's oil exports go to Europe.

Washington had repeatedly called on countries with close economic ties with Syria to join the US-backed sanctions against the country in response to what it called the Damascus crackdown on protesters.

The US has already banned the import of Syrian oil. Syria, however, says it will find buyers elsewhere.

The EU has also added four more Syrian officials and three Syrian firms, including a bank, to its list of those affected by the EU travel ban and asset freeze.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March, with demonstrations held both against and in support of President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Hundreds of people have been killed when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes between alleged protesters and state security forces as well as organized attacks by armed gangs against Syrian police forces.

While the opposition accuses security forces of being behind the killings, the government blames outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups for the deadly violence, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.

West not after reforms in Syria: Assad

Syria's President Bashar Assad speaks during an interview with Syrian state television in Damascus August 21, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/195090.html

The Syrian president severely criticizes the US and its allies for their intervention in the country's internal affairs, saying they are not in pursuit of political reformation in Syria.

Bashar al-Assad said in a televised interview with the Syrian state TV on Sunday that Washington and its European partners were hindering political change in Syria, while political solution was the only way out of the country's crisis.

“In the beginning, the aim is not reforms for the West, they do not want reforms ... They do not want us to make reforms,” said the head of state.

Assad said, “The reforms for the colonial Western powers, their main aim is ... to give them what they want, to tell them I abandon everything, I abandon all my rights. This is reforms for them ... and this is something they cannot dream about.”

“The plan was to overthrow Syria during a period of weeks and what helped us is the will and vigilance of the Syrian people.”

He noted that the Syrian constitution required revision and the promised reforms would be implemented within the next few months.

Unrest started to sweep through Syria in mid-March, claiming the lives of hundreds of people, including members of the security forces.

Damascus says that the tension is being orchestrated from outside the country and that the security forces have been given clear instructions not to harm civilians.

The president likewise said, “There is nothing called the security choice, the security alternative, there is only the political solution ...our choice was the political solution, however the political solution cannot be successful without maintaining and preserving security, and this is the duty of state.” He vowed that municipal and parliamentary elections would be held respectively in January and February 2012.

Syrian state TV has broadcast reports and images of seizure of arms caches as well as confessions by terrorist elements, pointing to how they obtained weaponry from foreign sources.

The US and the European Union have been issuing Damascus successive broadsides throughout the unrest. They recently urged Assad to give up power and threatened the country with further sanctions.

Syria needs time to enact reform: Russia

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/194738.html

Russia has opposed US-led calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, saying he should be given more time to implement reforms.

Moscow's stance came one day after US President Barack Obama introduced harsh new sanctions against Damascus and urged Assad to quit over the months-long unrest in the country.

The While House claims that Assad's “calls for dialogue and reform have rung hollow while he is imprisoning, torturing and slaughtering his own people.”

Britain, France, Germany and the EU have also called for Assad to "step aside".

"We do not support such calls and consider that right now, the government of President Assad needs time to implement all reform processes that have been announced," a source in the Russian foreign ministry told Interfax news agency.

Some other countries, including Turkey, however, have rejected foreign interference in Syria's affairs, saying it is the Syrian people who must decide about their country.

Obama on Thursday signed an executive order banning new US investment in Syria and any dealings in the country's petroleum sector.

The executive order also denies Damascus access to the American financial system, freezes all Syrian government assets subject to US jurisdiction and prohibits any US citizen from engaging in transactions with Syria.

European leaders have announced that they are preparing to expand their sanctions against Syria and that they would likely push for more at the Security Council.

Syria's UN envoy Bashar Ja'afari accused Washington of "waging a humanitarian and diplomatic war" against Syria, together with some other UN Security Council members.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March with demonstrations held both against and in support of President Assad's government.

Hundreds of people have been killed when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes between alleged protesters and state security forces as well as organized attacks by armed gangs against Syrian police forces.

While the opposition accuses security forces of being behind the killings, the government blames outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups for the deadly violence, stressing that the unrest is being orchestrated from abroad.

Assad to address Syrians on crisis

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/194580.html

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reportedly plans to deliver a televised speech in the upcoming days to address the ongoing crisis in the country.

Informed sources say Assad plans to address the nation in the next two days about the months-long unrest in Syria that is feared to seriously harm the national unity in the country, a Press TV correspondent reported on Thursday.

The Syrian head of state is expected to elaborate on the leadership's proposed measures to curb the tension.

The speech will come as the Syrian Army pulls its units out of Deir Ezzor after clearing the eastern city of armed gangs.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March with organized attacks by well-armed gangs against Syrian police forces and border guards being reported across the country.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed in the tension.

Damascus says that the unrest is being orchestrated from outside the country and that the security forces have been given clear instructions not to harm civilians.

Syrian state TV has also broadcast reports and images of seizure of arms caches as well as confessions by terrorist elements, pointing to how they obtained weaponry from foreign sources.

Syrian army takes control of volatile area

Syrian troops (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/194226.html

The Syrian army has taken control of almost the entire volatile Ramel neighborhood of the northwestern city of Latakia after the surrender of many members of the armed gangs in the area.

Clashes will continue to erupt in the area, although on a more limited scale, as a number of the gangs still remain in Ramel, a Press TV correspondent reported on Tuesday.

Many leaders of the armed gangs and blacklisted criminals have been arrested and a large supply of various weapons and explosives, including dynamites, has been seized.

On Monday, two Syrian troops were killed and 52 others injured during clashes in the area.

Syria has been grappling with months of unrest that has left scores of people dead so far.

The opposition accuses security forces of being behind the killings. But the Syrian government blames armed gangs for the violence, saying that the unrest is being orchestrated from outside the country.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to bring the people responsible for the killings to justice.

Syrians rally in support of President Assad

Tens of thousands of Syrians staged a rally in support of President Bashar al-Assad in Tartous on August 16, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/194184.html

Tens of thousands of Syrians have poured into the streets in a pro-government mass rally at the country's western city of Tartous to show their support for President Bashar al-Assad.

The demonstrators, carrying Syrian flags and chanting pro-government slogans, slammed on Tuesday what they described as foreign interference in their country's internal affairs, SANA news agency reported.

The participants said they would not compromise their national unity nor would they allow anyone to tamper with the idea.

They also hailed sacrifices made by the Syrian army in its fight against armed terrorist groups.

Hundreds of people, including members of security forces, have been killed in Syria since the unrest began in mid-March.

The Syrian government blames armed gangs for the violence, saying that the unrest is being orchestrated from outside the country and security forces have been given clear instructions not to harm civilians. However, the opposition claims security forces are behind the violence.

Turkey warns Syria on military operations

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/194110.html

Turkey has warned the Syrian government to stop military operations aimed at ending the recent unrest in the country “immediately and unconditionally.”

"If these operations do not stop, there will be nothing left to say about the steps that would be taken," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday.

"This is our final word to the Syrian authorities, our first expectation is that these operations stop immediately and unconditionally," Today's Zaman quoted Davutoglu as saying.

The Turkish foreign minister stressed Turkey's support for the Syrian people, adding that Ankara has been contacting the Damascus government everyday to demand an end to the crackdown.

Earlier, the Turkish military called up its recently retired officers in anticipation of a massive influx of Syrian refugees along its border with Syria.

The Syrian military has been conducting an operation to combat armed terrorist gangs responsible for the attacks on protesters, security forces and public places.

Syria has been grappling with months of unrest that has left scores of people dead so far.

The opposition accuses security forces of being behind the killings. But the Syrian government blames armed gangs for the violence, saying that the unrest is being orchestrated from outside the country.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to bring the people responsible for the killings to justice.

Earlier, President Assad issued a decree which will authorize a multi-party political system in the country. The measure allows new political parties to operate alongside the ruling Ba'ath party -- in power since 1963.

US, allies stepping up pressure on Syria

White House spokesman Jay Carney

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/194134.html

The United States says it is cooperating with its allies to step up the pressure on Syria, although Damascus insists that foreigners are fueling the unrest in the country.

On Monday, White House spokesman Jay Carney said, “We are looking, together with a broad array of international partners, to increase pressure on [Syrian] President [Bashar] Assad,” AFP reported.

Leveling accusations against the Syrian head of state, Carney said, “By his actions he has demonstrated that he has lost legitimacy to lead, and the president has no doubt that Syria will be better off without him.”

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March, with demonstrations being held both against and in support of President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Hundreds of people have been killed in protest rallies that turned into armed clashes between alleged protesters and state security forces and in organized attacks by armed gangs targeting the Syrian security forces.

Washington says the Syrian government is responsible for the current situation in the country.

But the Syrian government says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country and the security forces have been given clear instructions not to harm civilians.

In addition, Syrian state TV has broadcast reports showing seized weapons caches and confessions by terrorist elements describing how they obtained arms from foreign sources.

US regional allies Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait recalled their ambassadors to Damascus earlier this month, before the White House's threat-laden message.

Political analysts have opined that the moves could be interpreted as a prelude to foreign intervention or even civil war in Syria.

In June, Washington threatened Syria with regime change, with Carney claiming that there had to be a “transition to a more democratic Syria.” “President Assad needs to either lead that transition or get out of the way,” he stated.

Iran, Turkey discuss Syria developments

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi (R) and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu attend a joint news conference in the Iranian capital, Tehran, July 10, 2011. (File photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/193960.html

Iran and Turkey have discussed the recent developments in the Middle East particularly the unrest in Syria as the Turkish military moves to deploy its retired officers to cities along the Syrian border.

In a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu on Sunday, Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi talked about Tehran-Ankara bilateral relations as well as regional developments, particularly the unrest in Syria, IRNA reported.

The Turkish military has called up recently retired officers in anticipation of a massive influx of Syrian refugees along its border with Syria.

Veterans that have retired from the military over the past five years are to be deployed in border provinces.

More personnel have already been sent to bases and strategically important outposts, with Turkish officials stating that “17,000 Syrians are on their way,” fleeing from destabilized regions of their country.

Turkish officials say there are already over 7,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey, and no one knows what might happen if the trend continues.

Hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed in Syria since the unrest began in mid-March.

The Syrian government blames armed gangs for the violence, saying that the unrest is being orchestrated from outside the country and security forces have been given clear instructions not to harm civilians. However, the opposition says security forces are behind the violence.

NATO plans to arm Syria criminal gangs

Weapons seized from Syrian criminal armed gangs (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/193902.html

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Turkey are preparing the ground for military intervention in Syria especially through providing criminal Syrian armed gangs with weaponry.

Large caches of weapons including anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, mortar bombs and heavy machine guns will be sent via ground to major Syrian cities witnessing unrest, according to a report by Debka.

Turkey's military will protect the arms caches on their passage to Syrian rebels.

Syrian rebels have been receiving training inside Turkey to use the weapons for two weeks.

Turkey has warned that it will join any possible military action against neighboring Syria.

On Saturday, Ankara recalled its retired officers to be deployed to cities along the border with Syria. Ankara is a NATO member seeking an EU membership.

More than 1600 people have lost their lives since a wave of unrest gripped Syria five months ago.

Syrian authorities blame foreign-backed armed gangs for the killings. Damascus says as many as 500 soldiers and police officers have been killed by armed groups.

More Turkish troops sent to Syria border

Turkish troops (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/193806.html

The Turkish military has called up recently retired officers in anticipation of a massive influx of Syrian refugees along its border with Syria.

Veterans that have retired from the military over the past five years are to be deployed in border provinces, the Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman reported on Thursday.

More personnel have already been sent to bases and strategically important outposts, with Turkish officials stating that “17,000 Syrians are on their way,” fleeing from destabilized regions of their country.

There are already over 7,000 Syrian refugees in Turkey, and no one knows what might happen if the trend continues, Turkish officials say.

The Turkish government has been preparing for the massive entry of the refugees for over two months and has established a crisis coordination center that is continuously monitoring the Syria-Turkey border.

Turkey has also established an animal quarantine center to deal with any animals brought over the border by the Syrian refugees.

In addition, Turkish officials have expressed concern about the possibility of a NATO intervention in Syria, saying such a move would hurt Turkey the most and could spark a serious backlash in the Islamic world.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March, with demonstrations being held both against and in support of President Bashar al-Assad's government.

Hundreds of people have been killed in protest rallies that turned into armed clashes between alleged protesters and state security forces and in organized attacks by armed gangs targeting the Syrian security forces.

Syrian state TV has broadcast reports showing seized weapons caches and confessions by people describing how they obtained arms from foreign sources.

'Syria firmly pursuing armed gangs'

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in the Syrian capital, Damascus, August 9, 2011.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/193156.html

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says Damascus is determined in pursuing the armed terrorist groups behind the recent unrest in Syria.

The Syrian president said on Tuesday that the acts of killing and terrorizing are perpetrated by the armed gangs against the civilians and law enforcement members, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

Assad made the remarks during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The Syrian president pointed to his government's determination to complete the ongoing process of comprehensive reforms in the country, saying that Syria is open to any help offered by “friendly countries” in this regard.

The Turkish foreign minister, for his part, said Turkey is keen on “Syria's security and stability.”

Davutoglu also said Syria would become “a model in the Arab world” after accomplishing the reforms. He further added that stability in Syria is the key to stability in the region.

Syria has been experiencing unrest in the past months, with demonstrations held both against and in support of the government.

Hundreds of people, including security forces, have been killed during clashes in the country since the beginning of the unrest in mid-March.

The Syrian opposition claims security forces are behind the killings, but the government blames the deadly violence on foreign-backed armed gangs.

Syria promises free, fair elections

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem, file photo

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192672.html

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem has announced that the country will hold free and transparent parliamentary elections by the end of the year.

“The Syrian leadership still stresses that national dialogue is the way to solve the current crisis, and in the absence of such dialogue due to the opposition's negative stances, we have no other choice but to go down the path of reforms without leaving it hostage to any hindering factor,” Muallem said on Saturday after reviewing President Bashar al-Assad's reform package.

He further said that the government is committed to implementing Assad's promised the reforms as the Syrian leadership is devoted to maintaining security and stability and to lead the country towards democracy and progress, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.

Assad issued a decree on Thursday, authorizing a multi-party political system in the country.

The decree paves the way for the establishment of political parties and allows them to function alongside the country's Baath Party, which has been in power since 1963, with the constitutional status of the “leader of state and society.”

Syria has been experiencing unrest in the past months, with demonstrations held both against and in support of the Assad government. Hundreds were killed when some protest rallies turned into armed clashes between alleged protesters and state security forces as well as organized attacks by well-armed gangs against the Syrian police force and border guards in the north of the country.

The Syrian opposition accuses security forces of being behind the killings, but the government blames the deadly violence on armed gangs.

Assad issues decree on multi-party law

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/192281.html

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued a decree which will authorize a multi-party political system in the country.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported on Thursday that the president issued Legislative Decree No. 100 for 2011 on Parties Law and Legislative Decree No. 101 for 2011 on General Election Law.

The decree paves the way for the establishment of political parties and allows them to function alongside the country's Baath Party, which has been in power since 1963 with the constitutional status of “the leader of state and society.”

Assad's decree means the law can take effect immediately without approval of the Syrian parliament.

Last month, the Syrian government adopted a draft law on multiple political organizations, which was “aimed at enriching political life, creating a new dynamic and allowing for a change in political power.”

The decree also prohibits parties founded on the basis of “religion, tribal affiliation, and regional interests.”

Syria has been experiencing unrest in past months with demonstrations held both against and in support of the government.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said security forces killed four civilians and injured dozens of others in several cities across the country on Wednesday.

The Syrian opposition accuses security forces of being behind the killings, but the government blames the deadly violence on armed gangs.