EU slams Syria's brutal response to "legitimate" demands
AFP
BRUSSELS- European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton issued a strongly-worded condemnation Saturday of the brutality of Syria's response to the "legitimate" aspirations of protestors.
Saying she was "appalled" by the violence, Ashton urged authorities "to meet the legitimate demands and aspirations of the people with dialogue and urgent political and socio-economic reforms."
"The state of emergency must be lifted," she said in a statement.
"I strongly condemn the brutal repression, including the totally unacceptable use of violence and live ammunition, which must cease now."
Syria earlier freed 260 political detainees in the biggest overture yet to protesters demanding reform in the country, where President Bashar al-Assad is facing unprecedented domestic pressure.
The release, which has been confirmed by rights groups, came one day after at least 13 people were killed in protests demanding major reforms in a nation under single-party rule for close to 50 years.
Assad's government had announced a string of reforms on Thursday, including the release of all activists detained this month and the possibility of ending emergency rule, in place since 1963.
But protesters have vowed to keep hitting the streets until their demands for "freedom" are met.
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