Syrian Press Roundup

Week April 24-30 Fallen "martyrs" from the security forces and confessions from "terrorist groups" featured heavily in the Syrian Press this week, as well as the failed attempt to reach an agreement in the UN Security Council on Syria's crackdown on demonstrations. Various attacks on security forces and civilians were reported throughout the week, and the Government owned daily Al-Thawra claimed Apr. 19, that 78 officers from the army and the security forces, and 70 civilians had been killed since the start of the events. The Syrian news agency Sana published a statement by the member of Parliament Mohammed Habash on Apr. 26, in which he said that "the coming week will be decisive to Syria, as the Parliament will discuss adjustments to the sections of the constitution which regulates the relationship between the party and the state". Section 8 of the Syrian constitution says that the ruling Baath Party is head of state and community in Syria. Habash urged Syrians to calm down and give the Government a chance to carry out reforms. Apart from this, further reforms and political changes have not dominated the press this week.