| President Bashar Assad has quashed jail sentences imposed by the state security court on two students who walked free Thursday, one day after the Syrian leader pardoned 300 detained Kurds, a human rights lawyer said. "President Bashar Assad refused to approve the verdict issued by the state security court against students Mohammed Bashir Arab and Muhannad Debes, who were released today," Anwar Bunni said. The lawyer praised the releases but called for the "cancellation of all verdicts issued by the state security court which is an emergency tribunal, as well as the release of all political prisoners," including six opposition members still held after being arrested in September 2001. |