Syria says freed 265 political prisoners
SANA state news agency says Assad's regime released detainees involved in popular uprising 'who do not have blood on their hands.' Move consistent with Kofi Annan's peace plan
Syria has freed 265 detainees involved in the popular uprising against President Bashar Assad, "but who do not have blood on their hands," the state news agency SANA reported on Saturday.
Releasing detainees is a requisite of the six-point peace plan brokered by UN-Arab League envoy
Kofi Annan last month, as is the ceasefire agreement that came into effect on April 12.
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Last month, the Syrian Ministry of the Interior called on armed Syrians who were not directly involved in the bloodshed to turn themselves in and turn over their weapons to the police. They were promised to be released and that they would face no further legal actions.
At least 4,000 prisoners have been freed since November, according to SANA. These prisoners also did not have "blood on their hands."
Last Thursday, in the most stern message since the ceasefire went into effect the White House said a new international approach may be needed if a UN-backed peace plan fails.
Condemning a raid of a Syrian student protest, White House spokesman Jay Carney said: "If the regime's intransigence continues, the international community is going to have to admit defeat and work to address the serious threat to peace and stability being perpetrated by the Assad regime."
Reuters contributed to this report
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