Turkey says Syria's Assad is working on reforms
Turkey's prime minister says Syria is working on reforms, including lifting emergency rule and restrictions on political parties. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday he had spoken to President Bashar Assad twice in the past three days and advised the Syrian leader to "answer the people's calls with a reformist, positive approach." Erdogan said: "I did not get a 'no' answer."
Syria has been rocked by more than a week of demonstrations that began in the southern city of Daraa and exploded nationwide on Friday. Security forces opening fire on demonstrators in at least six places, killing dozens. Assad is expected to announce on Tuesday that he is lifting a nearly 50-year state of emergency and moving to annul other harsh restrictions on civil liberties and political freedoms. (AP)
