SANA: Assad Decrees Multi-party System

Syria's embattled president on Thursday decreed a law allowing opposition political parties, state media said after the United Nations condemned his regime's deadly crackdown on democracy protests.

"President Bashar Assad on Thursday issued Legislative Decree No. 100 for 2011 on Parties Law and Legislative Decree No. 101 for 2011 on General Election Law," the official SANA news agency said in a brief report.

The law allows political parties to be established and function alongside Assad's Baath party, in power since 1963 with the constitutional status of "the leader of state and society."

Political pluralism has been at the forefront of demands by pro-reform dissidents who since March 15 have been taking to the streets across Syria almost daily to call for greater freedoms.

Assad's regime has sought to crush the movement with brutal force, killing more than 1,600 civilians and arresting thousands, according to human rights activists.

Demonstrators have vowed to protest every night of Ramadan following evening prayers despite the assault on Hama and the killing of some 120 people across the country on the eve of the Muslim holy month.

Thursday's presidential decree comes after the Syrian government adopted a draft law on multiple political organizations last month.

At the time, SANA reported the draft legislation was "aimed at enriching political life, creating a new dynamic and allowing for a change in political power."

"The bill stipulates the essential objectives and principles governing the activities of parties, conditions for their establishment ... and rules relating to their financing, their rights and their obligations," SANA said.

It prohibits parties founded on the basis "of religion, tribal affiliation, regional interests; professional organizations as well as parties which discriminate on the basis of race, sex or color," the report said.

The presidential decree, which means the law can take effect immediately without parliament's approval, came only hours after the U.N. Security Council stepped up pressure on Syria's rulers.

However, Syria insists it is fighting "armed terrorist gangs".

Western powers had hoped for stronger action at the Security Council but were rebuffed by veto-wielding members Russia and China, who feared doing so would pave the way for another military intervention like the one in Libya.