DAMASCUS, Syria, July 5 (UPI) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has granted a general amnesty for prisoners convicted prior to June 10, the Syrian news agency reported Saturday.
The amnesty applied to all crimes, according to the edict issued by the office of the president but did not necessarily apply to all of the punishment.
The amnesty could serve to bring into the open fugitives from justice who are not eligible unless they surrender. Narcotics and weapons smugglers are also not eligible nor are those who have used weapons against authorities.
The amnesty also applies to certain fines.
The edict contains many qualifications and conditions, such as allowing freedom for those convicted of economic crimes only if restitution is made within a year.
Goods confiscated as a term of punishment will not be returned under the new rules. There was no immediate estimate as to how many will benefit from the announcement.
