A Syrian government adviser has confirmed to Al Jazeera that the country’s emergency law is to be lifted.

Bouthaina Shaaban, an adviser to Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, told Al Jazeera’s Cal Perry that the law would “absolutely” be lifted, but failed to give a timetable.

The repeal of the emergency law, in place since the 1963 coup that brought the Baath Party to power, has been a key demand of protesters who have taken to the streets in recent days to demand greater political freedoms.

Dozens of pro-reform protesters have been killed in clashes with security forces and government supporters in towns cities across the country.

Pro-government Syrians have also taken to the streets to show their support for al-Assad.

Despite the deadly crackdown on protests, al-Assad’s regime had pledged to review the emergency law and has also released scores of political prisoners.

Al Jazeera’s Perry said the move would go some way towards appeasing the protesters’ demands.

“It will open up press freedom and political freedom. This is something that people have been calling for on the streets. Certainly it is a concession on the government’s part,” our correspondent said.

aljazeera
Update: Al-Arabiya: The emergency law will be officially lifted in Syria after the drafting of a counter terrorism act.

According to a Syrian opposition analyst the counter terrorism act may be just a different name for the emergency laws