DAMASCUS, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday issued a presidential decree on pardoning military deserters, reported the state news agency SANA.
The amnesty covers the desertion-related crimes of military personnel who fled their positions to areas inside or outside Syria, the report said.
The pardon covers the desertion activities that took place before Jan. 25, according to the decree.
Assad has issued several pardons during the nearly 11-year civil war in Syria, aiming to allow the Syrians who broke certain laws to return to normal life. ■
